Leadville is one of many old mining towns in Colorado that are undergoing a transition to become an expensive mountain resort. Telluride, Crested Butte, Aspen and Breckenridge are now very pricey ski resorts in winter and popular mountain destinations in the summer. Central City, Blackhawk and Cripple Creek have become gambling destinations. Leadville is more into outdoor recreation and particularly, long distance, high altitude running and biking. It is a smaller town (<5,000 permanent residents) and has limited hotel capacity; it is impossible to get a room the weekend of an event like the Leadville 100 mile race so check ahead if visiting. It is also located at over 10,000′ elevation so the weather, even in summer, can be challenging. May through September are the best times to visit.
It is located about a two hour drive west of Denver and the drive there is a trip down ‘mining memory lane’. On Interstate 70 the route goes first through the old mining towns of Idaho Springs, Georgetown and Silver Plume. The residues from old mines are visible on the west side of the Highway. The housing stock in both Idaho Springs and Silver Plume have seen better days but Georgetown is full of charming Victorian era housing and has a beautiful old railroad that goes over some breathtaking trestles.
The route goes south from I 70 at Copper Mountain over Fremont Pass. As it climbs the tailings ponds for the Climax molybdenum mine are on the west side and as the route descends towards Leadville the still active Climax mine (owned by Freeport-McMoran) is on the east side.
The two highlights in Leadville are the Mining Hall of Fame and associated mining museum and the Irish Miners Memorial at the main Leadville Cemetery. The Hall of Fame has plaques to Marcus Daly, John Mackay, Mother Jones, Henry Oliver and Philip Argall. There is an entrance fee. The miners memorial was constructed by The Irish Network Colorado under the leadership of Professor James Walsh of the University of Colorado, Denver. It has a list of names of people (mostly children) buried in the paupers section in the late 19th century. Along with the Speculator Memorial in Butte, it is one of the more poignant places in North American mining history.
Elsewhere, Harrison Street downtown is largely the same as it was in 1900, Annunciation Church is where the Irish worshipped and there are a number of smaller wooden mine headframes on the east side of town. On the second Saturday in September, the town has its annual St Patrick’s Day Practice Parade. It is a very informal affair through a couple of blocks of Harrison St, followed by refreshments at a local tavern.
Plaques at the Mining Hall of Fame
Liam Sculpture at the Irish Miners Memorial
