Leadville, Colorado

A Brief History of Leadville

Leadville’s mining history grew from the 1860 gold discoveries in nearby California Gulch. A new rush followed in the late 1870s as miners developed rich silver-bearing lead ores, transforming the area into a major mining and commercial center. Mines, smelters, shops and substantial downtown buildings reflected the wealth and labor behind the silver boom. The silver crash of 1893 brought severe hardship, but mining continued through other metals and later molybdenum production in the region. Preserved commercial buildings and mining sites now help explain both the boom years and the community’s adaptations after silver lost its earlier economic dominance.