Leadville is located about 20 miles south of Vail Colorado at an elevation of 10,152 ft., making it the highest city in the U.S. It was founded in 1877 by two men, one being Horace Tabor–owner of the Matchless Mine and several prominent businesses in town. Within three years of its founding on “desolate flat land,” Leadville had gas lights, 28 miles of streets, five churches, three hospitals, six banks, and a school. Having been built of brick, many historical sites have survived. Some are:
Harrison Ave.
Along Leadville’s main street are many surviving structures. General Ulysses Grant can be seen in this 1880 photo admiring them.
Here is a photo dated ca.1915 taken at the other end of Harrison Ave. looking back towards downtown.
Hyman Club on Harrison Ave. Photo dated 1905.
Tabor Opera House next to Hyman Club.Photo dated 1881.
Tabor Grand Hotel a/k/a Vendome Hotel. Photo is undated.
Matchless Silver Mine. Photo dated 1928.
Railroad Depot. Photo dated 1915.
Modern day Leadville has an annual event called skijoring where a skier is pulled along by a rope attached to a horse galloping down Harrison Ave.
