Evening in Leadville
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

Leadville is one nineteenth century mining community that didn’t become a twentieth century ski resort. At just over 10,000 feet, it is the highest incorporated city in the United States. At one time it was the second largest city in the state due to the 1874 discovery of several massive silver deposits.

Stopping to Smell the Flowers
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

Tabor Opera House
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

The Tabor Opera House is the most famous building in Leadville’s popular historic district as well as the namesake for one of its most famous citizens, George Tabor. Tabor ran a store and post office in Leadville before making his fortune in silver.

There are plenty of stories about George Tabor but none are better than the one in which he was the victim of one of Leadville’s many mining swindles. “Chicken Bill” Lovell tried to convince Tabor to buy his Chrysolite mining claim by dumping a load of silver ore into an otherwise barren pit. The ruse worked; Tabor bought the claim – and discovered a rich body of ore just a few feet beneath the bottom of the pit.

Poppies in the Yard
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

Boy Against a Wall
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

By this point, The Boy had already decided that Indian Paintbrush was his favorite wildflower so, for the remainder of our trip, he carried a pack of Indian Paintbrush seeds with him wherever he went. Or he had his personal assistant, The Mom, carry them for him.

Oreo Cookie Mouth
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

Szechuan Taste
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

No, we did not eat here, Gladys, despite the alluring cardboard sign…

Bailey Funeral Home
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

Leadville Street Scene
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

In 1961, the town of Leadville and 67 surrounding mining sites were declared a National Landmark Historic District. Twenty years later it received the less coveted designation of SuperFund site due to ground and water contamination from many of those 67 mines. Clean up is said to be 98% complete.

Closed
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

Much to Darla’s dismay, Leadville shuts down at 6:00PM. We didn’t arrive until after 7:00PM. Darla called this bad luck. I called it careful planning…

Are You a Good Witch…Or a Bad Witch?
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

The object of Darla's affection was this dual-sided lunch box which dovetailed nicely with her own dual personas in her sixth grade classroom. She would later get it for Christmas through the magic of the internet.

Golden Burro Cafe & Visitor Center
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

Battle of Wills
Leadville, Colorado - July 2009

Our time in Leadville ended in a completely fake battle of wills between The Mom and The Boy. Over what, I do not remember – probably The Boy’s desire to convert to an all-chocolate diet.

previous image set: Vail,Colorado
next image set: Independence Pass & Maroon Bells, Colorado