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77-665: James Toner filed the Hecla claim on 5 May 1885. He passed on the claim to A.P. Horton, who sold it to George W. Hardesty and Simon Healey. Patrick (Patsy) Clark owned the claim outright by 1 July 1891. On 29 Sept. 1891, Clark formed the Hecla Mining Company with Albert Gross and Charles Kipp. On 14 Oct. 1891, the company was incorporated in Idaho by Clark, Charles Kipp, John A. Finch, Amasa B. (Mace) Campbell, John Dorsey, Healey and Hardesty, and 500,000 shares issued. By 1897,

154-683: A National Historic Landmark in 1961, contains many historic structures and sites of Leadville's mining era. In the late 19th century, Leadville was the second most populous city in Colorado, after Denver . The Leadville area was first settled in 1859 when placer gold was discovered by A. G. Kelley in California Gulch , and by Abe Lee in April (25/26) 1860, during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush . Prospectors panned for gold in

231-491: A $ 5 debt. Despite overwhelming evidence implicating him, a jury found Holliday not guilty of the shooting or attempted murder. Gunfighter and professional gambler Luke Short also spent time in Leadville. Margaret "Molly" Brown , who became known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", moved to Leadville in 1885, when she was 18 years old. In 1886 she married a mining engineer who was twelve years older, James Joseph Brown at

308-588: A 30% interest in production. Hecla also sold off the Pend Oreille Lead Zinc Co. stock it had bought in 1945, while relinquishing Rock Creek claims, located southeast of Wallace, it acquired in 1946. In 1958, Hecla started purchasing shares in Lucky Friday Silver-Lead Mines, eventually becoming the major owner at 38%. In 1964, Lucky Friday Silver-Lead Mines Co. merged into Hecla Mining. This allowed Hecla to trade on

385-424: A cold semi-arid climate (Bsk). The average January temperatures are a maximum of 29.5 °F (−1.4 °C) and a minimum of 4.6 °F (−15.2 °C). The average July temperatures are a maximum of 71.0 °F (21.7 °C) and a minimum of 39.2 °F (4.0 °C). There are an average of 271.7 mornings annually with freezing temperatures, which can occur in any month of the year. The record high temperature

462-613: A considerable loss; the copper mine was closed eventually. William A. Griffith took over as president in 1979, and Hecla decided to sink a third shaft, "the Silver Shaft", at Lucky Friday, taking it to 6205 feet by 1983. On 8 July 1981, Hecla and Day Mines agreed to merge. Hecla thus acquired the Knob Hill gold mine near Republic, Washington , besides owning all of the Lucky Friday. In 1982, Hecla shut down operations at

539-497: A federal charter that was drawn in by Leadville offering a good deal on the former high school building. In 1983, Ken Chlouber partnered with Merilee Maupin to founded the Leadville Trail 100 Run, a 100-mile ultramarathon through the rugged mountain terrain around the town. It succeeded, leading them to found the still-extant Leadville Race Series, which contains a variety of races. The Leadville Race Series has become

616-407: A generator and lights for the town on May 13, 1881. On May 19, 1882, a large fire broke out at the corner of Harrison Avenue and East Chestnut. Horace Tabor divorced his wife of 25 years and married Baby Doe McCourt on September 30, 1882, who was half his age. Tabor was by then a US senator , and the divorce and marriage caused a scandal in Colorado and beyond. For several years, the couple lived

693-712: A lavish lifestyle in a Denver mansion, but Tabor, one of the wealthiest men in Colorado, lost his fortune when the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act caused the Panic of 1893 . He died on April 10, 1899, of appendicitis, destitute but remained convinced that the price of silver would rebound. According to legend, he told Baby Doe to "hold on the Matchless mine   ... it will make millions again when silver comes back." She returned to Leadville with her daughters, Silver Dollar and Lily, where she spent

770-483: A popular endurance race series, attracting hundreds of athletes to Leadville each year. Leadville is often used as a base for altitude training and hosts a number of other events for runners and mountain bicyclists . At an elevation of 10,158 feet (3,096 m), Leadville lies close to timberline , which in Colorado is from 11,000 to 12,000 feet (3,400 to 3,700 m). The surrounding peaks are all well above 12,000 feet, and are thus bare of trees. Leadville has

847-681: A rough tented camp near the silver deposits in California Gulch. Initially, the settlement was called "Slabtown", but when the residents petitioned for a post office, the name "Leadville" was chosen. By 1880, Tabor and Meyer's new town had gas lighting, water mains, 28 miles (45 km) of streets, five churches, three hospitals, six banks, and a school for 1,100 students. Many business buildings were constructed with bricks hauled in by wagons. In early 1878, Meyer, along with Leadville's pioneer smelter entrepreneur, Edwin Harrison, after whom

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924-599: A tailings mill at Osburn, that processed 4,000,000 tons of Canyon Creek tailings over the next 5 years. The last tonnage of ore hoisted from the Hecla Mine was on 31 July 1944, bringing the total to 9,050,977 tons. The Hecla Mine stayed open at the 2000 foot level, so the Star could operate. The Silver Summit shaft was deepened to 3000 feet, where additional ore was discovered in 1946. By 1948, Hecla owned 50% of Sullivan, 63% of Polaris (now merged with Silver Summit), and 33% of

1001-583: A visit to a local saloon, "where I saw the only rational method of art criticism I have ever come across. Over the piano was printed a notice – 'Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.'" Several other notable figures visited the Tabor Opera House, including boxer Jack Dempsey . The town has made major efforts to improve its economy by encouraging tourism and emphasizing its history and opportunities for outdoor recreation. The National Mining Museum and Hall of Fame opened in 1987 with

1078-461: Is a minor connection between different levels in a mine . When worked upwards from a lower level it is usually called a raise ; when sunk downward from a higher level it may be called a sump. The top of a winze is located underground and it is not equipped with winding gear. Rather, the access up and down between levels is usually via ladder. This is in contrast to a shaft , which is a deeper connection between levels and does have winding gear, whether

1155-583: Is recognized around the world. Such are the vagaries of life." Alice Ivers, better known as Poker Alice , was a card player and dealer of the Old West who learned her trade in Leadville. Born in Devonshire , her family moved to America when she was a small girl. They first settled in Virginia , where she attended an elite girls' boarding school. When she was a teenager, her family moved to Leadville when

1232-619: Is the second highest summit in the Rocky Mountains and state of Colorado, and the third highest in the contiguous United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city of Leadville has an area of 1.1 square miles (2.9 km ), all land. The lower part of California Gulch runs past the southern edge of the city, flowing west 3 miles (5 km) to the Arkansas River . Leadville has an alpine subarctic climate ( Dfc ) with cold winters and mild summers, bordering on

1309-743: The New York Curb Exchange . On 21 Dec. 1964, shares of Hecla Mining started trading on the New York Stock Exchange, after 49 years on the American Stock Exchange . In 1966, Hecla acquired the Morning Mine from Asarco . The Morning Mine had been operating since 1889, when it was closed in 1953. Hecla had reached an agreement in 1961 to develop the Morning through the Star. Hecla established

1386-730: The United States . Some Hecla mining sites are Casa Berardi , in La Sarre Quebec . This site is 100% owned by Hecla, with a production rate of 121,493 ounces of gold. Another site is the Greens Creek and Lucky Friday , Lucky Friday is a deep underground site that has been operation since 1942. Due to COVID-19 in 2020 the site production decreased significantly, and was only able to produce about 2.0 million ounces of silver that year. [REDACTED] Media related to Hecla Mining at Wikimedia Commons Winze A winze

1463-582: The 12,000-foot (3,700 m) elevation, and a defined portion of the village area, with specific exclusions for various buildings. The principal historic buildings are the Tabor Grand Hotel, St George's Church, Temple Israel , African Methodist Episcopal Church (est. 1881)African Methodist Episcopal Church (est. 1881), the Annunciation Church, Tabor Opera House, City Hall, Healy House , Dexter Cabin , Engelbach House, Tabor House, and

1540-541: The 53,804-acre Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument, preserving the area’s important historic, prehistoric, natural, and recreational values. 10 miles (16 km) north of Leadville the old downhill training slope, Cooper Hill, located atop Tennessee Pass on the Continental Divide , now operates as the Ski Cooper resort. Much of the area is above the tree line , providing a panoramic view of

1617-715: The Church of Annunciation. The Brown family acquired great wealth in 1893 when Brown was instrumental in the discovery of a substantial gold ore seam at the Little Jonny Mine. The mine was owned by his employers, the Ibex Mining Company. Margaret Brown became famous because of her survival of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic , after exhorting the crew of Lifeboat No. 6 to return to look for survivors. A 1960 Broadway musical based on her life

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1694-488: The Coeur d’Alene Basin. The agreement, which was lodged in federal district court in Idaho today, brings closure to that lawsuit and establishes a strong basis for future cooperation between Hecla and the governments in the Coeur d’Alene Basin." In January 2017 Hecla Mining reported full year 2016 production totaling 17.2 million ounces of silver and 233,929 ounces of gold. Hecla's processing takes place in various sites besides

1771-512: The EPA reports: "A vast majority of the cleanup at the site has been completed, so current risk of exposure is low. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children are still encouraged to have their blood-lead levels checked." [1] As the population boomed, by 1878, Leadville had the reputation as one of the most lawless towns in the West . The first city marshal was run out of town a few days after he

1848-716: The Gold Rush Room with specimens of native gold, a large collection of mineral specimens, and a mining art gallery. The site also includes the Matchless Mine and cabin, former home of Baby Doe Tabor . Some historic sites are linked by the Mineral Belt National Recreation Trail , an 11.6-mile (18.7 km) all-season biking/walking trail that loops around Leadville and through its historic mining district. In part it follows old mining-camp railbeds. Interpretative kiosks recount

1925-538: The Golden Burro Cafe and Lounge, as well as mining structures and small homes. The National Mining Hall of Fame on West 9th Street is dedicated to commemorating the work of miners and people that work with natural resources. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Major exhibits include an elaborate model railroad , a walk-through replica of an underground hardrock mine,

2002-607: The Hecla corridor connecting Burke with Mullan, and developed a central shaft to deepen the mine to the 9100 foot level. In 1967, Hecla purchased 14% of Day Mines, Inc., becoming the largest stockholder, and reached an agreement to develop the Hunter Ranch through the Lucky Friday shaft. In 1967, Hecla agreed to develop the Lakeshore copper mine in Arizona, which was unsuccessful due to the low copper prices. Hecla suffered

2079-830: The Plains with Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill Hickok , played shows at the Chestnut Street Theatre. Texas Jack had served in the Confederate Army at age 16 and subsequently joined the Tabor Light Guard, a local militia unit. Jack died of pneumonia on June 28, 1880. His funeral was held at the Tabor Opera House, and he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. On September 8, 1908, Texas Jack's best friend and former costar Buffalo Bill Cody visited Leadville with his Wild West Show and dedicated

2156-581: The Polaris mine with a shaft, while buying the surrounding property, which included the Chester in 1936, and Silver Summit in 1935. The Silver Summit tunnel was then extended to the Polaris shaft. The Polaris Development & Mining Company included 10 percent ownership by Newmont Mining Corporation in 1934, and Newmont's exploration geologist, Fred Searls, joined the Hecla board. Lewis E. Hanley served as president starting in 1940, until 1951. Hecla started

2233-550: The Resurrection Mining Co., located east of Leadville, Colorado . Lester Randall became president in 1951, and served until 1966, when William H. Love took over. Randall worked on consolidating Hecla's balance sheet, selling its interest in Sullivan to Bunker Hill in exchange for stock, becoming the largest shareholder at 17.37% in 1955. Hecla was paid a fee and rental for Star access, until 1961, when it took

2310-712: The Star Mine in Burke. Bunker Hill formed an equal partnership with Hecla Mining to develop the Star Ore and develop the zinc plant, calling the company the Sullivan Mining Company. The Star ore was accessed and mined from an almost 8000 foot tunnel from the lower workings of Hecla Mine. The tunnel was started in 1921, and the zinc plant was operational by Oct. 1928, and used Dr. U.C. Tainton's process. The Tainton process used sulphuric acid to combine with

2387-780: The Star-Morning. On 7 June 1983, Hecla incorporated in Delaware. On 9 March 1984, Hecla merged with Ranchers Exploration and Development Corp., and Hecla acquired the Escalante silver mine west of Cedar City, Utah , the Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Co., and the Colorado Aggregate Co. In 1986, Hecla opened its new corporate office north of Coeur d'Alene and Arthur Brown became president. In June 2011 Hecla Mining settled an environmental suit under

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2464-596: The Superfund statute, filed under CERCLA in 1991 by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe , which was later entered by the United States and the state of Idaho. Under the settlement agreement, Hecla Mining will pay $ 263.4 million plus interest to the plaintiffs "to resolve claims stemming from releases of wastes from its mining operations. Settlement funds will be dedicated to restoration and remediation of natural resources in

2541-492: The Tabor Opera House during his 1882 American Aesthetic Movement lecture tour. The reviews were mixed, and the press satirized Wilde in cartoons as an English dandy decorated with sunflowers and lilies , the floral emblems of the Aesthetic Movement. A Kansas newspaper described the event: Oscar Wilde's visit to Leadville excited a great deal of interest and curiosity. The Tabor-opera house where he lectured

2618-671: The burning of the Coronado Mine. In a letter to a London business contact, mine owner Eben Smith wrote, "The strikers got the worst of it in the raid on the Coronado and Emmet [mines], there were 10 or 12 killed; we do not know how many, and a great number wounded; they take care of their wounded the same as the Indians but every now and then a fellow turns up that the rats have been eating or who has gone to decay that we know must have been shot ..." World War II caused an increase in

2695-530: The demand for molybdenum , used to harden steel. It was mined at the nearby Climax mine , which at one time produced 75 percent of the world's output. By 1980, the Climax Mine was the largest underground mine in the world. Taxes paid by the mine provided Leadville with good schools and libraries and provided employment for many residents. When the market dropped in 1981, Leadville's economy suffered and many people lost their jobs. With little industry other than

2772-436: The famed Harrison Avenue is named, and Tabor established a post office in Leadville, with George L. Henderson designated as postmaster on July 16, 1877. The post office and the telegraph office both prospered, with Tabor serving as postmaster from February 19 to December 13, 1878. It was said that the Leadville post office was the busiest one between St. Louis and San Francisco. In 1878, the town's first hospital, St. Vincent's,

2849-593: The family since the 1960s. The town has frequent, sometimes small parades held in the downtown area, such as the quirky St Patrick's Day Practice Parade. The Leadville Trail 100 , an ultramarathon , takes place each August since 1983 on an out-and-back course on trails around Turquoise Lake, over Hagerman Pass , the Colorado Trail, through Twin Lakes, across the Arkansas River, up and over Hope Pass, to

2926-457: The first full weekend of August, is a tribute to the city's mining past. The event has been honored by Congress as a Local Legacy Event. The festivities held over three days include mining competitions and burro racing , motorcycle games, a rod and gun show, live music, a craft fair and parade. The annual skijoring event and Crystal Carnival take place in March. This is a horse-drawn skiing for

3003-426: The first major labor conflict in the central Colorado silver boomtown, shutting down most of the area’s mining district from May 26, 1880. According to one historian of the era, "The outpouring of the precious metal from Leadville transformed the struggling Centennial State into a veritable autocrat in the colony of states. As if by magic the rough frontier town of Denver became a metropolis; stately buildings arose on

3080-590: The ghost town of Winfield . The "Route of the Silver Kings" is a driving tour of the 20-square-mile (52 km ) historic mining district. The tour passes mines, power plants, ghost towns and mining camps. Situated within the San Isabel National Forest and surrounded by three wilderness areas, Leadville is popular with hikers and campers. The Mount Massive Wilderness and Buffalo Peaks Wilderness are within 10 miles (16 km) of

3157-484: The gold has been tapped out of the gulch and attention was averted to nearby Leadville, a mile or two away, Oro City became a ghost town. Leadville was founded in 1877 by mine owners Horace Tabor and August Meyer at the start of the Colorado Silver Boom . Tabor's house was also built in 1877, at 116 E. 5th Street. The town was built on desolate flat land below the tree line . The first miners lived in

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3234-483: The ground. Ben Wood, who arrived in Leadville in 1878, opened the first legitimate theater, Wood's Opera House, with a thousand seats. It was a first-class theater, where gentleman removed their hats and did not smoke or drink in the presence of a lady. Less than a year later, Wood opened the Windsor Hotel. His opera house was regarded as the largest and best theater constructed in the West , an honor it held until

3311-630: The highest elevation of any city in the United States. Leadville lies in a valley at the headwaters of the Arkansas River which flows through the southern Rocky Mountains and eventually empties into the Mississippi River . It is situated between two mountain ranges, the Mosquito Range to the east and the Sawatch Range to the west, both of which include several nearby peaks with elevations above 14,000 feet (4,300 m),

3388-585: The history and a photograph of what was on that particular site more than a century ago. The trail is well-marked with interpretive signs and altitude and mileage markers. Created by Executive Order in 1889 to increase the supply of fish for inland waters, the Leadville National Fish Hatchery was established. Camp Hale is located 15 miles (24 km) north of Leadville in the Eagle River valley north of Tennessee Pass . It

3465-633: The mine had three tunnels and a 150 foot winze . On 12 July 1899, the new Hecla Mining Company was incorporated in Washington by Campbell, Finch and Clark. The company was capitalized with 1,000,000 shares, surrounding claims were acquired, and Edward F. Moffitt made manager. The Hecla tunnel was rebuilt in 1900, and the company paid its first dividend on 25 July 1900. Ore was sent to Salida, Colorado for processing by American Metal Company 's Ohio & Colorado Smelting & Refining Company. James F. McCarthy took over management in 1903, James R. Smith

3542-485: The only source of recreation for the trainees, Leadville was persuaded to change its moral character, perceived "to be on a rather low plane" at the time. In 2019, Camp Hale was designated as a National Historic Site offering a self-guiding tour with interpretive signs at ten stops and a larger interpretive site at the main entrance. President Biden used his authority under the Antiquities Act in 2022 to establish

3619-493: The opening of the Tabor Opera House . Horace Tabor's Opera House was the most costly structure in Colorado at the time. Building materials were brought by wagons from Denver. The massive three-story opera house, constructed of stone, brick, and iron, opened on November 20, 1879. Tabor, originally from Vermont , became the town's first mayor. After striking it rich, he had an estimated net worth of 10 million dollars and

3696-509: The other stockholders. "Chicken Bill" Lovell dumped a wheelbarrow load of silver-rich ore into a barren pit on his Chrysolite claim in order to sell it to Horace Tabor for a large price. Tabor had the last laugh when his miners dug a few feet farther and discovered a rich ore body. Some time later the manager of the Chrysolite mine fooled an outside mining engineer into overestimating the mine's ore reserves. The city's fortunes declined with

3773-463: The peaks of the Sawatch Range to visitors. A memorial to troops of the 10th Mountain Division is located at the summit. The Evergreen Cemetery was the first cemetery in Leadville, established on November 1, 1879. The town's first library was built in 1904. A federal building was built in 1905 on Harrison Avenue and 8th Street. It served as the town post office until 1973. Boom Days, held on

3850-547: The permanent memorial that marks Texas Jack's grave today. The Texas Jack Association erected highway historical markers on roads in and out of Leadville. In the summer of 1879, American author and illustrator Mary Hallock Foote arrived in Leadville. It is believed her time in Leadville inspired her writing. In 1882, shortly after the gun fight at the O.K. Corral , Doc Holliday arrived in Leadville, where he dealt faro . On August 19, 1884, he shot ex-Leadville policeman Billy Allen, who had threatened him for failing to pay

3927-538: The repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893, although afterwards there was another small gold boom. Mining companies came to rely increasingly on income from the lead and zinc . The district is credited with producing over 2.9 million troy ounces of gold, 240 million troy ounces of silver , 1 million short tons of lead, 785 thousand short tons of zinc (discovered in 1911 ), and 53 thousand short tons of copper. A bitter strike by Leadville's hard rock miners in 1896–97 led to bloodshed, at least five deaths, and

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4004-700: The rest of her life believing Tabor's prediction. At one time the "best dressed woman in the West", she lived in a cabin at the Matchless Mine for the last three decades of her life. On March 7, 1935, after a snowstorm, she was found frozen in her cabin, aged about 81 years. Mining in the Leadville area began in 1859 when prospectors discovered gold at the mouth of California Gulch . By 1872, placer mining in California Gulch yielded more than $ 2,500,000, roughly equivalent to $ 64,000,000 in 2023. In 1876, black sand , once considered bothersome to placer gold miners,

4081-427: The silver boom drew hundreds of new residents to the area. At the age of twenty she married a mining engineer who, like many of the men at that time, frequented the numerous gambling halls in Leadville. Alice went along, at first just observing, but eventually she began to sit in on the games as well. After a few years of marriage her husband was killed in a mining accident and she turned to cards to support herself. Alice

4158-420: The site of shanties; crystal streams flowed through the arid plains and the desert blossomed and became fruitful. Poverty gave way to the annoyance of wealth and the fame of silver state spread throughout the world." Swindles were not uncommon in the mining community. When the Little Pittsburg mine was exhausted of its rich ore body, its managers sold their shares while concealing the mine's actual condition from

4235-569: The so-called fourteeners . Mount Elbert , 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Leadville, is the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America and the highest point in the Colorado and the entire Mississippi River drainage basin . An ultra-prominent 14,440-foot (4,401 m) fourteener, Mount Elbert is the highest summit of the Sawatch Range and the second-highest summit in the contiguous United States after Mount Whitney in California. Mount Massive , 10.6 mi (17.1 km) west-southwest of Leadville, at 14,428 ft (4,398 m)

4312-449: The spring of 1880, Texas Jack Omohundro and his wife Giuseppina Morlacchi arrived in Leadville. Morlacchi, a famous Italian prima ballerina who had introduced the Can-can dance to the United States, performed several plays at the Grand Central Theatre, including Around the World in 80 Days and The Black Crook . Texas Jack, who had starred in The Scouts of the Prairie with Buffalo Bill Cody and Ned Buntline , and later in The Scouts of

4389-418: The stream that ran through California Gulch in what became the town of Oro City ( oro is the Spanish word for gold). Horace Tabor , who became known as the "Leadville Silver King", and his wife Augusta were among the first prospectors to arrive in Oro City. Horace was appointed as the postmaster of Oro City on November 30, 1868. His wife made money as postmistress, banker, cook, and laundress while Tabor

4466-432: The top of the excavation is located on the surface or underground. This article about mining is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Leadville, Colorado Leadville ( / ˈ l ɛ d v ɪ l / LED -vil ) is a statutory city that is the county seat , the most populous community, and the only incorporated municipality in Lake County , Colorado , United States. The city population

4543-496: The tourist trade, most of the former miners left, and the standard of living declined. Climax reopened in 2008 and started production in 2010. It currently is the most efficient mine producing molybdenum in Colorado and is estimated to have a production life of thirty years. The many years of mining left behind substantial contamination of the soil and water and the Environmental Protection Agency designated some former mines Superfund sites, such as California Gulch . As of 2019,

4620-476: The town's shady business culture. Despite violent threats, the Chronicle survived without major incident. William Nye opened the first saloon in 1877, and it was followed by many others. The same year the Coliseum Novelty was the first theater to open. It offered sleeping rooms upstairs for a nightly rate and provided a variety of entertainments: dancing girls, dogfights, cockfighting, wrestling and boxing matches, and rooms for gambling. In June 1881, it burned to

4697-409: The zinc, forming a sulphate solution, followed by electrolysis tp remove the zinc. The product was called Bunker Hill 99.9 percent zinc. The 13 July 1923 fire burned most of Burke's business district, including Hecla's surface plant, putting the mine out of business for almost 6 months. Use and Occupancy Insurance covered the loss, and Hecla rebuilt the plant with concrete and steel. In 1924, ore

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4774-409: Was 1.70 inches (43.2 mm) on February 13, 1986. Average annual snowfall is 156.9 inches (3.99 m). The most snowfall in one year was 362.0 inches (9.19 m) in 1995. The most snowfall in one month was 77.6 inches (1.97 m) in May 1995. The Leadville Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. The district encompasses 67 mines east of the city up to

4851-402: Was 2,633 at the 2020 census . It is situated at an elevation of 10,119 feet (3,084 m). Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States and is surrounded by two of the tallest peaks in the state. Leadville is a former silver mining town that lies among the headwaters of the Arkansas River within the Rocky Mountains . The Leadville Historic District , designated

4928-435: Was 86 °F (30.0 °C) on July 17, 2023. The record low temperature was −38 °F (−38.9 °C) on February 1, 1985. Average annual precipitation is 13.52 inches (343.4 mm). The wettest calendar year was 2014 with 18.08 inches (459.2 mm) and the driest 1994 with 8.27 inches (210.1 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 4.83 inches (122.7 mm) in January 1996. The most precipitation in 24 hours

5005-400: Was a U.S. Army ski warfare training facility constructed in 1942 for what became the 10th Mountain Division . Some of the nation's finest skiers were employed as instructors. Soldiers were trained in mountain climbing, Alpine and Nordic skiing, and cold-weather survival, as well as various weapons and ordnance. When it was in full operation, approximately 15,000 soldiers were housed there. As

5082-419: Was a prospector. The early miners had noted that mining for placer gold was hampered by heavy black sand in the sluice boxes , and in 1874 it was discovered that the heavy sand that impeded gold recovery was the lead mineral cerussite , which has a high silver content. Prospectors traced the cerussite to its source, present day Leadville, and by 1876 had discovered several silver-lead lode deposits. As

5159-428: Was appointed, and his replacement was shot dead within a month by one of his deputies. Fearing the town would be lost to the lawless element, Mayor Horace Tabor sent for Mart Duggan , who was living in Denver, as a replacement. Duggan was well known at the time as a fearless gunfighter. Using strong-arm and lawless tactics, during his two stints as marshal, Duggan brought order to Leadville by 1880 when he stepped down. He

5236-448: Was attractive, dressed in the latest fashions, and was in great demand as a dealer. Eventually Alice left Leadville to travel the gambling circuit, as was common of the male gamblers of that time. She continued to dress in the latest fashions but took to smoking cigars. Well known throughout the West, gambling halls welcomed her because she was good for business. Alice said that she won more than $ 250,000 by gambling during her lifetime. In

5313-401: Was discovered to contain lead carbonates, leading to a rush of miners to the area and the founding of the town in 1877. By 1880, Leadville was one of the world's largest and richest silver camps, with a population of more than 15,000. Income from more than thirty mines and ten large smelting works produced gold, silver, and lead amounting to $ 15,000,000 annually. The Leadville strike of 1880 was

5390-454: Was elected president, and the company bought the Milwaukee mill located in Gem. In 1913, Hecla started sending ore to International Smelting and Refining Company in Tooele, Utah . Hecla Mining moved offices from Spokane, Washington , to Wallace, Idaho , on 14 Oct. 1904. In Oct. 1908, Frank Upman was elected president, he was succeeded by McCarthy in Oct. 1911, and the east ore body was discovered in Feb. 1912. On 23 Sept. 1915, Hecla stock

5467-442: Was found in the Star, and a substantial ore body was discovered in the Hecla at the 2800 foot level. A tunnel then connected the Star with the Morning mine at the 2250 foot level. In 1925, a tailings mill started operation next to the Gem mill, and continued operation until 1949. The main Hecla shaft was deepened to the 3500 foot level by 1929. In 1930, Hecla gained control of the Polaris Mine . In 1933, Hecla started developing

5544-500: Was known for his extravagant lifestyle. In February 1879 the Lake County seat was moved to Leadville, where it has remained ever since. In 1879, An impressive courthouse was built on the west side of Harrison Avenue, joined by a new post office that same year. Telephone service was introduced by Western Union on May 15, 1879, and gas lighting downtown was installed on November 18 that same year. Billings and Eilers Smelter installed

5621-679: Was listed on the New York Curb Exchange , and monthly dividends paid since March 1904, became quarterly in 1918. In July 1917, Hecla began sending its ore to the Bunker Hill Mine and Smelting Complex in Kellogg, Idaho , and by 1918, the Hecla mine shaft was reaching 2000 feet in depth. In 1920, Hecla acquired Federal Mining & Smelting Co.'s claims near Hecla, including the Tiger-Poorman. The Bunker Hill Mining Company constructed an electrolytic zinc plant after purchasing

5698-529: Was opened. The town's first newspaper was The Reveille , a Republican weekly, in 1878. Three months later, a competing Democratic weekly, The Eclipse , emerged. The Chronicle was the town's first daily and first newspaper in America to employ a full-time female reporter. Like the Rocky Mountain News , The Chronicle took the lead in outing criminals and thieves, in an attempt to clean up

5775-521: Was packed full. It was rumored that an attempt would be made by a number of young men to ridicule him by coming to the lecture in exaggerated costume with enormous sunflowers and lilies and to introduce a number of characters in the costume of the Western "bad men". Probably, however, better counsel prevailed and no disturbance took place. Mayor David H. Dougan invited Wilde to tour the Matchless Mine and name its new lode "The Oscar". Wilde later recounted

5852-720: Was produced, along with a 1964 film adaptation of the musical, both titled The Unsinkable Molly Brown . Her home in Denver has been preserved as the Molly Brown House Museum. Meyer Guggenheim of the Guggenheim family started out in Leadville in mining and smelting . The family went on to possess one of the largest fortunes in the world. Family members have become known for their philanthropy in diverse areas such as modern art and aviation, including several Guggenheim Museums . Oscar Wilde appeared in April at

5929-417: Was shot and killed in 1888 by an unknown assailant, most likely an enemy he had made when he was a Leadville marshal. Historian Robert Dearment writes, "Mart Duggan was a quick-shooting, hard-drinking, brawling tough Irish man, but he was exactly the kind of man a tough, hard-drinking, quick-shooting camp like Leadville needed in its earliest days. His name is all but forgotten today, but the name " Matt Dillon "

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