Silverton - Colorado Ghost Town

SILVERTON

NAME: Silverton
COUNTY: San Juan
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 7
CLIMATE: Cold winter with snow, mild summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Summer

COMMENTS: Just South of Montrose. Great article on Silverton.
REMAINS: Many original buildings.

Certainly one of the better known and more familiar names in the annuals of early mining towns is that of Silverton. More of a supply center for mining camps than a mining town in its own right, Silverton supplied the needs of mines, mills and towns during the boom years of the 1880s and '90s. In 1893, the federal government repealed the Sherman Act following India's decision to stop coining silver money. Panic followed and silver mining was never the same. Silverton is located on highway 550 north of Durango. Its elevation is over 9,000 feet, which means heavy snow during the winter. The town has many buildings along its main street dating back to the days when silver was dominant. For a scenic train ride, take the narrow- gauge from Durango to Silverton. It's beautiful. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth. Silverton Courtesy Dolores Steele Town from the Hillside Cemetery Courtesy Dolores Steele Silverton Courtesy Dolores Steele Silverton Courtesy Joe Grumbo Mayflower Mine Courtesy David Johnson Views for Miles! Nearby Old 100 Courtesy Cheryl Herrera	Silverton in 1900 Courtesy U.S. Geological Survey Durango and Silverton Narrow Guage from Durango to Silverton Courtesy Dolores Steele Train arrival in Silverton Courtesy Dolores Steele Silverton Courtesy Dolores Steele Silverton Courtesy Dolores Steele Jail Courtesy Dolores Steele Old 100 - Columbine with Boarding House in background Courtesy Cheryl Herrera Serene - Old 100 Courtesy Cheryl Herrera

Certainly one of the better known and more familiar names in the annuals of early mining towns is that of Silverton. More of a supply center for mining camps than a mining town in its own right, Silverton supplied the needs of mines, mills and towns during the boom years of the 1880s and '90s. In 1893, the federal government repealed the Sherman Act following India's decision to stop coining silver money. Panic followed and silver mining was never the same. Silverton is located on highway 550 north of Durango. Its elevation is over 9,000 feet, which means heavy snow during the winter. The town has many buildings along its main street dating back to the days when silver was dominant. For a scenic train ride, take the narrow- gauge from Durango to Silverton. It's beautiful. Submitted by Henry Chenoweth.