Leadville Colorado

Sitting at over 10,000 feet, Leadville Colorado is the highest incorporated city in the United States.

Horace Tabor and his wife Augusta had settled in Colorado in 1859. They opened a general store in Oro City. In 1878 Tabor acquired a one-third interest in Little Pittsburgh Mine. Tobar eventually sold his interest in the mine for one million dollars, making him one of the richest men in the country. That same year Tabor founded Leadville. By 1880, Leadville had become one of the largest silver mining camps in the world

With some of the money he made, Tabor bought the legendary Matchless Mine from a group of poor miners for the sum of $117,000. Tabor was the butt of jokes for investing in a mine that had swapped hands many times and had produced very little. But "Tabor's Folly," as his business associates called the mine, became a bonanza for Tabor when he found a huge vein of silver 150 feet deeper than the others before him had dug.

Tabor entered politics becoming the first Mayor of Leadville and then Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. He even served a month as a United States Senator.

By this time Horace had parted ways from his wife, Augusta, who didn't approve of his free spending, extravagant lifestyle. Horace soon fell in love and married Elizabeth McCourt, or "Baby Doe" as he affectionately called her. Horace and Baby Doe built the Tabor Opera House, which still stands today.

Horace and Bay Doe lived the high life on the $2,000 per day profit that the Matchless Mine was producing, but it didn't last. Lavish spending, poor investments, dropping silver prices and the repeal of the Silver Purchase Act wiped out Tabor's nine million dollar fortune and left the couple penniless.

Tabor Opera House

Baby Doe Tabor

Horace found work in the Leadville Post Office. He died of appendicitis in 1899. Legend has it that his last words to Baby Doe was "Hold on to the Matchless... it will pay millions again."

But it was not to be.

Fact and fiction are hard to sort out from the point where Horace died. The Tabors had actually lost ownership of the mine to creditors before Horace died. Baby Doe spent the last 36 years of her life in a supply cabin next to the Matchless Mine, where she was found frozen to death in March of 1935.

Baby Doe's life has become the subject of several books, movies and documentaries, and a play, The Ballad of Baby Doe.

Things to Do In Leadville Colorado:

Tour the Matchless Mine

Phone: 719-486-1229

Hours:
May through August: 9am to 5pm daily. Tours are by appointment only the rest of the year.

Admission:
Adults: $7
Seniors (63+): $6
Children (6-11): $3

Directions:Drive 1.3 miles east on 7th Street.

Tour the Tabor Opera House

Hours: Memorial Day through Labor Day: Monday-Saturday 9am to 5pm
For the rest of the year, tours are available by appointment only.

Admission:Adults: $5
Children (0-11): $2.50

Phone: 719-486-8409

See the Tabor Home

The historic home of Horace Tabor and his wife Augusta.

Hours:
Memorial Day-Labor Day: Daily 10am to 4pm.

Admission:
Adults: $4
Children (6-12): $2

Phone: 719-486-2092

Dexter Cabin and the Healy House Museum

Phone:719-486-0487

Admission:
Adults: $5
Seniors (65 & over): $4.50
Children (ages 6-16): $3.50

Hours:
Please contact the museum for information on hours.

Ride the Leadville Colorado and Southern Railroad

The train winds up the Continental Divide and takes you into the beautiful Arkansas Valley.

The ride is 2 1/2 hours

Reservations are recommended

Rates:
Adults: $33
Children (ages 4-12): $20

Phone: 719-486-3936

National Mining Hall of Fame

Phone: 719-486-1229

Admission:
Adults: $7
Seniors (ages 63 and up): $6
Children (ages 6-11): $3

Hours:The museum is open from 9am to 5pm May through October, and from 10am to 4pm November through April.

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