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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- D.& R.G.W.R.R. Narrow Gauge Excursion on Marshall Pass
- The Narrow Guage passing a mountain - passengers can be seen outside the windows of the train.
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- D1446-Smuggler-Union Mills, Telluride, Colo.
- A black and white photograph of Smuggler-Union Mills, in Telluride, Colorado. The mine can be seen in the foreground with mountains in the background.
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- Daisy Placer Diggins (Colo.)
- Two photos: the top photo is of a gift store with three motorcycles parked in front; bottom photo is of the inside of the store.
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- Dance Hall in Box Canyon - Ouray, Colo
- Postcard with a picture of a building among trees looking over the town of Ouray
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- Diana Hills, Ophir,Colo.
- Thick white bordered postcard photo taken of a water fall.
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- Dolores-Telluride Hiway, Montezuma Nat'l Forest
- Dolores-Telluride Hiway, Montezuma National Forest.
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- Drilling Hole 3,000 ft. Underground, Silver Lake Mine, Silverton, Colo.
- Colored lithographic photo print image of a figure, in long coast and hat, posed with mine equipment in a rock shaft.
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- Duray[sic], Colorado
- Duray [Ouray], Colorado. Named after Indian Chief Ouray, friend of the Whiteman, this little town is virtually encircled by 13,000 to 14,000 ft. mountains situated on U.S. 550 the "Million Dollar Highway: Ouray is known as the Switzerland of America
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- Early Day Scene, Fourth of July, 1901 Parade, Ouray, Colo.
- View of a six horse drawn buggy going down a street. On one side of the street there are onlookers and cars circa early 1900's.
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- Early day mining operation
- Early day mining operation, Silverton and Ouray area, color postcard.
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- El Diente Peak
- El Diente Peak ("The Tooth"), elevation 14,159', Wilson Mountains Primitive Area near Telluride, Colorado. Showing residual snow on its slopes.
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- Elk State Parade, Sept 18th, 1911 (Ouray, Colo.)
- An old carriage with some men sitting in that is surrounded by more people.