Volume 5: Telluride/ Ouray/ Ophir

These mountain towns are gems in Southwest Colorado. Telluride and tiny Ophir are in San Miguel County, and Ouray, not far away if unimproved roads aren’t a barrier, is located in Ouray County. Telluride is the most populous (about two thousand residents) and best known of the three, home to a famous ski resort, many well-known music festivals, and exclusive luxury homes. Telluride’s colorful history as a hard-rock mining town where gold, silver, and tellurium were extracted beginning in 1878 changed dramatically in the 1970s when the Telluride Ski Resort opened. Telluride’s elevation is 8,750 feet above sea level, a bit higher than Ouray’s 7,792. (source) Fewer than 1,000 people call Ouray home, but each year many thousands of tourists visit the charming village, nicknamed the “Switzerland of America.” Like most mountain towns in the region, Ouray was founded on mining (gold, in this case), made accessible by the railroad, and popular with visitors. (source) Ophir, Colorado, is the highest in elevation of these three towns at 9,695 feet. Gold was discovered in 1875, and the town was founded in 1881, but the mines decreased until there was only one resident in 1970! Telluride’s popularity in recent has allowed a few hundred residents to call Ophir home. (source)

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: Chimney Peak as seen from Owl Creek Pass Road near Ouray, Colorado; A color photograph of Chimney Peak from Owl Creek Pass Road near Ouray, Colorado. The fall colors can be seen in the trees.

: Chipeta, Wife of Ute Chief Ouray; Color lithograph print of the painting 'Chipeta, Wife of Ute Chief Ouray', by Charles Lindneux in Ute, Museum, Montrose, Colorado. State Historical Society of Colorado

: Circle M, Ouray, Colorado; Circle M, Ouray, Colorado. Finest Beds, comb. tub and shower private baths. Off highway, quiet and restful with true Western hospitality.

: Circle Route Stage 20 (Ouray, Colo.); Photo of a six-horse drawn wagon in downtown Ouray in front of stores; red cliffs in the background [writing on back] addresses to Mr. and Mrs. HS. Holiday postmark date Oct. 9 one cent stamp

: City Hall and Library (Ouray, Colo.); Photograph of the Ouray City Hall and Library, Ouray, Colorado.

: City of Telluride (Colo.) 9,000 ft. above sea level; View of Telluride in a valley from above; on hill surrounding areas are covered with snow on the back it states "City of Telluride 9,000 feet above sea level" and 'Picture taken from 11,000 feet 2,000 feet above town"

: Clouds in San Miguel Valley, Colorado

: Clouds in San Miguel Valley, Colorado; Clouds in San Miguel Valley, Colorado (2 panel postcard) postmarked 8/21/1910. This is a hand tinted double panel photograph postcard of clouds in San Miguel Valley, below the tops of the mountains.

: Colorado; Discover the beauty of Fall Colors in the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Colorado, through Ophir Pass with Mt. Wilson in the distance.

: Colorado; 13,492 foot Whitehouse Mountain and Twin Sisters Peak, near Ridgway, Colorado.

: Colorado; A color postcard with four red flowers and leaves.

: Colorado's "Million Dollar" Scenic Highway; Colorado's " Million Dollar" scenic Highway through San Juan Rockies, color postcard.

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