Silverton Colorado

Silverton, Colorado

A Step Back In Time

Silverton sits on the roof of the nation.  One of the last, of the Old West, rustic allures.
Hardrock mining founded Silverton and kept it going for more than a century.
Founded in the 1800’s and named Bakers Park after its founder Charles Baker. I sit in a meadow, in the bowl of an old volcanic caldera.
Baker was chased away by Ute Indians for invading their native hunting grounds.
After the civil War a Treaty was signed and the Ute’s moved from the area.
Silverton was established as a mining camp.  Later it became a town.
The main streets were named after early settlers.  A raucous red-light district was on the “notorious Blair Street.” There are a least 20 buildings that have been preserved.  Many of them with original furnishings.  Much remains as it was.  Never having a fire as many of the mining towns, all the old wooden buildings are as they were.
It has an interesting museum in the old three story jail.  The jail having three floors was a novelty for the time.  Having the Sheriff and his family live there in the jail was scandalous.
Silverton still clings to its Old West ways and is on of the most charismatic towns in the San Juan Mountains.
For those seeking to explore the old ghost towns, there are many guides to take you on the 700 miles of jeep trails.
A summer ride on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gage Railroad is offered daily.  Or tour the “Old Hundred Gold Mine.”
It too is as it was, in the mining era.