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)

Pages

: Sunset, Mt. Wilson (near Telluride, Colo.); Photo of peaks with trees in the foreground many clouds overhead. (The Center has two of this card -- duplicates.)

: Sunshine Peak, Alt. 14,018 ft. - near Telluride, Colo.; A distant view of Sunshine Peak, near Telluride, Colorado.

: Sunshine Peak, altitude 14,018 feet (near Telluride, Colo.); Snow capped peak overlooking trees small clouds overhead.

: Susan Johnson; Susan Johnson, by H. H. Cross. Sister of Ouray, chief of the Uncompahgre Utes of southern Colorado. Brother and Sister both were noted for their unwavering loyalty to the whites. H. B. Walker Collection, the state historical society of Wisconsin

: Swimming pool (Ouray, Colo.); Black and white photographic print postcards of an outdoor swimming pool. Building and sign stating "Radium Springs Park Natural Hot Water" at left.

: Swimming pool (Ouray, Colo.); Color photographic print postcard of pool and surrounding grounds at a high vantage point.

: Swimming pool (Ouray, Colo.); Black and white photographic print postcard of outdoor swimming pool, surrounding grounds, outbuilding, and sign stating "Radium Springs Park Natural Hot Water."

: Swimming pool (Ouray, Colo.); Color photographic print postcard of oval-shaped pool and outbuildings with parked mid-century vehicles at right.

: Swimming pool and gold fish ponds (Ouray, Colo.); Aerial photo of oval-shaped pool with swimmers in it. To the right of the pool is a pond. Several cars are parked in front of the pool.

: Swimming pool and goldfish ponds (Ouray, Colo.); Black and white photographic print postcard of pool and surrounding grounds from a high vantage point.

: Swimming pool at Ouray; Colored photographic print postcard of a panoramic view of pool and buildings at the base of a wide mountain canyon.

: Switch-Back, Sneffels; Black and white photographic print postcard of a trail or road switchback on Mount Sneffels. Wagons and horses walk the trail.

Pages