Telluride Colorado History and RecreationTelluride Colorado was founded in 1875 and incorporated as a Home Rule Municipality in 1887, and has a population today of 2,300. At an altitude of 8,750 ft and located in a remote, box canyon, Telluride became a mining town when gold was found in 1858. Then in 1875 the first claim was filed in Marshall Basin above Telluride called the Sheridan vein. Supposedly named after the mineral tellurium, I like the other version that it was named after "to hell you ride". Being located in such a hard to reach location Telluride was at first slow to grow. Trying to get the ore out was a real problem because of the extremely steep terrain all around. Otto Mears the legendary road builder of this area, built a toll road in 1881 that made wagon travel possible greatly speeding ore removal. The railroad arrived in 1890 which increased the production of the mines and brought in more people and more mine discoveries. With some mines located at over 12,000 ft and terrible working conditions miners were soon at the throats of mine owners demanding better wages and work conditions. People died, and after many battles, unions were formed and in 1896 they joined the Western Federation of Miners. Miners were paid three dollars a day and one dollar a day for their room and board. The San Juan Mountains are not very hospitable in the winter with very cold temperatures and high winds. Telluride during this period was a very rough town with many saloons, gambling, prostitution, fighting and gun play going on like many of the mining towns in the San Juan Mountains. Miners being cooped up for months at a time would come into town to blow off steam. Telluride Colorado's San Miguel Valley Bank was robbed of $24,580 by Butch Cassidy in 1889, his first crime before hooking up with the notorious Wild Bunch Gang. Some of Telluride's more famous mines were the Nellie, Pandora, Smuggler-Union, Sheridan, and Tomboy. In 1939 the mines in this area began consolidating under the Idarado Mining Company. In 1953 Idarado acquired the Telluride Mines and kept work going till 1978 at the Pandora mine, then finally closing for good. Telluride's first ski lift was built in 1972 and for a long time was a very reasonably priced area for local people mainly run by hippies and ski bums. During the 80's Telluride Colorado started to become very popular because of its expert ski terrain and excellent scenery and soon became the destination of the wealthy. With new terrain being opened to skiing and constant development, Telluride has become more of a resort than a historical town. With Telluride regional airport and a larger airport in Montrose about 65 miles away development is hot and heavy for this small historic town. Today it is jamming with tourists both in the winter and summer as well. There is great elk and mule deer hunting in the high steep mountains surrounding this mountain town and staying in Telluride can make for an excellent after hunt diversion. Usually between summer and winter skiing there is a tourist slow down in most mountain towns making visits to town more enjoyable. Make sure your in good physical condition for this tough landscape. You will really earn any animal that you get here. One thing is for sure though, Telluride Colorado is a beautiful mountain town with lots of things to do. There are excellent places to eat, museums, entertainment, lots of outdoor activities and the famous Telluride Bluegrass Festival and more. Get a map here for directions and different area views. For more information go to Telluride Colorado Chamber of Commerce.
Western Colorado Towns
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