THE MINING INDUSTRY IN COLORADO

Mining was far and away the most significant industry in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Colorado and has remained important since that time.  The Pike’s Peak Gold Rush brought unprecedented numbers of people into the region and that in turn led to powerful social, economic, and political changes that brought about the creation of Colorado Territory in 1861, culminating in the admittance of Colorado to the Union in 1876.  Mining in all its phases remained the great engine of the Colorado economy until the early twentieth century.  The industry also contributed to significant technological advances and that, combined with the professional studies of all aspects of the industry, had powerful ramifications in the industry’s global expansion in both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  Though sometimes derided as a “mom and pop” industry and one of quaint ruins, mineral development in the Centennial State both reflected and contributed to the dramatic industrial and technological advances of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  Moreover, the powerful advance of industrial metal mining, coupled with immense coal production, contributed immeasurably to state, national, and international development.

This document provides a basic historical overview of mining activities and related technology in order to assist cultural resource professionals, landowners and managers, and the general public in identifying and evaluating mining and mining- related properties in relation to the eligibility criteria established by the National Register of Historic Places.  The document focuses on the three closely related mining industries–precious and base metals, coal, and industrial metals.  The geographic area includes the entire State of Colorado, although mining activities, particularly of metal ores, occurred primarily in the mountainous western half of the state.  As the document’s title infers, the historic contexts relate to the business and technology of the major mining functions of extraction, beneficiation and refining.  The development of railroad transportation is also discussed, as railroads and mining grew, prospered, and declined in a symbiotic relationship.

The document develops four historic contexts:

Precious and Base Metal Mining Industry in Colorado: 1858–2005
Coal Mining Industry in Colorado: 1858–2005
Industrial Metals Industry in Colorado: 1870–2005
Mining Technology, Methods, and Equipment in Colorado: 1858-2005

The document defines eight property types associated with the four contexts:

1. Placer Mine
2. Hardrock Prospect
3. Hardrock Mine
4. Open-Pit Mine
5. Ore-Concentration Facility
6. Smelter
7. Coal Mine
8. Mining Settlement and Residence

Accepted by the National Register on 9/18/2008
Full document (PDF, 21.8MB)

The following properties currently listed on the National Register are formally linked to this multiple property submission.  To learn more about these properties, see the individual property entries on the associated county webpage.

HARDROCK MINES

Shaft Mines
GOLCONDA MINE
Gunnison Resource Area, Lake City vicinity, Hinsdale County
National Register 9/28/1999, 5HN.454

Tunnel Mines
CRESCENT MINE
Vicksburg vicinity, Chaffee County
State Register 9/10/2003, National Register 10/11/2003, 5CF.683

LEBANON & EVERETT MINE TUNNELS
Adjacent to I-70, northeast of Silver Plume, Clear Creek County
National Register 10/7/1971, 5CC.7

LITTLEJOHN MINE COMPLEX
North bank of Pine Creek, vicinity of Granite, Chaffee County
National Register 12/27/1978, 5CF.138

SMUGGLER MINE
Smuggler Mountain, Aspen vicinity, Pitkin County
National Register 5/18/1987, 5PT.479

SNOWBOUND MINE
Boulder County Rd. 52, Gold Hill vicinity, Boulder County
National Register 8/3/1989, 5BL.448

ORE-CONCENTRATION FACILITIES

Concentration Mills
ARGO TUNNEL AND MILL
Idaho Springs to Central City, Clear Creek County
National Register 1/31/1978, 5CC.76

EMPIRE CHIEF MINE AND MILL
Gunnison Resource Area, Lake City vicinity, Hinsdale County
National Register 9/28/1999, 5HN.375

INDEPENDENCE MINE AND MILL
Junction of Rangeview Rd. and Colo. Hwy. 67, Victor, Teller County
National Register 3/4/1993, 5TL.340

MODOC MILL
Adjacent to Duck Lake, 4 miles north of Ward, Boulder County
National Register 12/27/1978, 5BL.359

ORE PROCESSING MILL & DAM / LEBANON MILL
Off I-70, 1 mile southwest of Georgetown, Clear Creek County
National Register 5/6/1971, 5CC.68

Smelters
HOLDEN MINING AND SMELTING COMPANY
1000 Block W. Colo. Hwy. 82, Aspen, Pitkin County
National Register 6/22/1990, 5PT.539

OHIO-COLORADO SMELTING & REFINING CO.
SMOKESTACK / SMELTERTOWN
1401 J St., Salida vicinity, Chaffee County
National Register 1/11/1976, 5CF.143

Coal Mines
FOX MINE OFFICE
1226 S. Cherryvale Rd., Marshall vicinity, Boulder County
National Register 2/23/1996, 5BL.460

MINING SETTLEMENTS AND RESIDENCES

Workers’ Housing
DERRY MINING SITE CAMP
Leadville vicinity, Lake County
National Register 7/14/2000, 5LK.1341

HEALY HOUSE
912 Harrison Ave., Leadville, Lake County
National Register 8/25/1970, 5LK.44

KULLGREN HOUSE
209 E. Cleveland St., Lafayette, Boulder County
National Register 5/20/1983, 5BL.817

LAFAYETTE HOUSE
600 E. Simpson St., Lafayette, Boulder County
National Register 5/20/1983, 5BL.823

LEWIS HOUSE
108 E. Simpson St., Lafayette, Boulder County
National Register 5/20/1983, 5BL.819

MARTIN MINING COMPLEX
6350 County Road #2, Silverton vicinity, San Juan County
National Register 5/13/2004, 5SA.1056

MILLER HOUSE
409 E. Cleveland St., Lafayette, Boulder County
National Register 5/20/1983, 5BL.818

REDSTONE INN
0082 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, Pitkin County
National Register 3/27/1980, 5PT.553.1

Unincorporated Settlements
ARGENTUM MINING CAMP
Gunnison Resource Area, Lake City vicinity, Hinsdale County
National Register 9/28/1999, 5HN.300

DUTCHTOWN
Ditch Rd., Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand County
National Register 1/29/1988, 5GA.807

INDEPENDENCE & INDEPENDENCE MILL SITE
Colo. Hwy. 82, White River National Forest, east of Aspen, Pitkin County
National Register 4/11/1973, 5PT.18

LITTLE ROME
Gunnison Resource Area, Lake City vicinity, Hinsdale County
National Register 9/28/1999, 5HN.593

LULU CITY SITE
Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand County
National Register 9/14/1977, 5GA.302

TELLURIUM / WHITE CROSS MINING CAMP
Gunnison Resource Area, Lake City vicinity, Hinsdale County
National Register 9/28/1999, 5HN.302

VICKSBURG MINING CAMP
Pike & San Isabel National Forest, Chaffee County
National Register 3/8/1977, 5CF.136

LUDLOW TENT COLONY SITE
Del Aqua Canyon Rd., south of Aguilar, Las Animas County
National Register 6/19/1985, 5LA.1829

Townsites
ASHCROFT
White River National Forest, south of Aspen, Pitkin County
National Register 5/12/1975, 5PT.37

BRECKENRIDGE HISTORIC DISTRICT
Breckenridge, Summit County
National Register 4/9/1980, 5ST.130

CENTRAL CITY-BLACK HAWK HISTORIC DISTRICT
Off Colo. Hwy. 119, includes commercial and residential areas in both communities, Gilpin County
National Historic Landmark 7/4/1961, National Register 10/15/1966, boundary increase 9/17/1991, 5GL.7

COKEDALE HISTORIC DISTRICT
Church, Maple, Pine, Elm, and Spruce Sts., Cokedale, Las Animas County
National Register 1/18/1985, 5LA.5782

CRESTED BUTTE HISTORIC DISTRICT
Crested Butte, Gunnison County
National Register 5/29/74, 5GN.271

CRIPPLE CREEK HISTORIC DISTRICT
Colo. Hwy. 67, includes the entire commercial and residential area, Cripple Creek, Teller County
National Historic Landmark 7/4/1961, National Register 10/15/1966, 5TL.2

DURANGO MAIN AVENUE HISTORIC DISTRICT
Bounded roughly by 5th St., the Durango and Silverton RR right-of-way, 12th St. and the alley between Main and 2nd Aves., Durango, La Plata County
National Register 8/7/1980, 5LP.304

ELDORA HISTORIC DISTRICT
Huron, Washington, Klondyke, and Eldora Sts., Eldora, Boulder County
National Register 10/4/1989, 5BL.758

GEORGETOWN-SILVER PLUME HISTORIC DISTRICT
Off I-70 at Georgetown and Silver Plume, includes the entire commercial and residential areas of both communities, as well as the railroad grade connecting them. Clear Creek County
National Register 11/13/1966, National Historic Landmark 11/13/1966, 5CC.3

GOLD HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT
Main, Pine, College, and Horsfal Sts., Gold Hill, Boulder County
National Register 8/3/1989, 5BL.769

GOLDFIELD CITY HALL & FIRE STATION
Victor Ave. and 9th St., Goldfield, Teller County
National Register 5/17/84, 5TL.119

IDAHO SPRINGS DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
Bounded by Center Alley, Riverside Dr., and Idaho St., Idaho Springs, Clear Creek County
National Register 1/5/1984, 5CC.201

LAKE CITY HISTORIC DISTRICT
Colo. Hwy. 149, Lake City, Hinsdale County
National Register 12/1/78, 5HN.68

LEADVILLE HISTORIC DISTRICT
Roughly bounded by Hazel St., W. Second St., James St., & Tenth St., Leadville, Lake County
National Historic Landmark 7/4/1961, National Register 10/15/1966, 5LK.40

OURAY HISTORIC DISTRICT
US Hwy. 550, Ouray, Ouray County
National Register 10/6/1983, 5OR.585

REDSTONE HISTORIC DISTRICT
Along Crystal River, Hawk Creek to 226 Redstone Blvd., Redstone, Pitkin County
National Register 7/19/1989, 5PT.553

SILVERTON HISTORIC DISTRICT
US Hwy. 550, includes the entire city boundaries, San Juan County
National Historic Landmark 7/4/1961, National Register 10/15/1966

ST. ELMO HISTORIC DISTRICT / FOREST CITY
Pitkin, Gunnison, lst, Main & Poplar Sts., St. Elmo, Chaffee County
National Register 9/17/1979, 5CF.139

TELLURIDE HISTORIC DISTRICT
Colo. Hwy. 145, roughly includes all the commercial and residential area as well as the Lone Tree Cemetery to the east, San Miguel County
National Historic Landmark 7/4/1961, National Register 10/15/1966, 5SM.752

VICTOR DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT
Bounded roughly by Diamond Ave., 2nd, Portland and 5th Sts., Victor, Teller County
National Register 7/3/1985, 5TL.134

WINFIELD MINING CAMP
County Rd. 390, 15 miles north of Buena Vista, Chaffee County
National Register 3/10/1980, 5CF.137

EAST THIRD AVENUE HISTORIC RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT
E. 3rd Ave. between 5th and 15th Sts., Durango, La Plata County
National Register 10/11/1984, 5LP.1411