Latest News – May 9

Explore Leadville Weekend Set for Sept 20-22

High country history buffs mark your calendars for Sept. 20-22: Explore Historic Leadville weekend. Presented by Leadville’s Colorado Mountain College (CMC), the weekend’s highlights will include numerous historical tours, ranging from museums to underground mines, as well as dinner and a theatrical performance at The Delaware Hotel. 

The festivities commence on Friday afternoon, Sept. 20, with an official welcome from former Leadville Mayor Bud Elliott and Mike Simon, vice president of CMC, followed by tours of the campus and historic Hayden Ranch.

Historic Hayden Ranch, is a Historic Preservation project of CMC. Photo Courtesy of Explore Historic Leadville.

The final activity of the day is a visit to the Old Stage Road alongside the Arkansas River, with stops at several interpretive signs detailing the route’s history.

Saturday, Sept. 21, begins with a tour of Leadville’s historic mining district, followed by a tour and picnic lunch at the National Hall of Fame and Mining Museum. The afternoon includes three additional tours: The House with the Eye Museum, a 19^th-century house known for its distinctive window; the Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin, home of Colorado’s first millionaire; and The Delaware Hotel, an elegant Victorian hotel built in 1886. The evening concludes with dinner and a performance by the “Madams of Central Colorado” at The Delaware Hotel. 

The weekend includes a tour the Healy House Museum, recently “remodeled” for even more authenticity. Photo Courtesy of Explore Historic Leadville.

The final day of the event is Sunday, Sept. 22, highlighted by a tour of the Hopemore Mine, in which participants descend a 600-foot vertical shaft to explore an authentic, hard rock mine. Afterwards, rockhounding expert Joe Nachtrieb will be on hand to assist in the search for semi-precious gemstones in the mining district, with grab-and-go lunches available. The final event is a tour of the Evergreen Cemetery, burial site of “Texas Jack” Omohundro, an Old West actor and cowboy.

The tour of the House With the Eye Museum will be given by Judge Neil Reynolds. Photo Courtesy of Explore Historic Leadville.

The event costs $199 until Sept. 13 and $229 afterwards, which includes all tours and activities in addition to lunch and dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday. Lodging is not included, but several area properties are offering discounted rates for the event. For liability purposes, participants are asked to use their own vehicles when transportation is necessary. 

For more information or to register: CLICK HERE.

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