Perched at nearly twice the elevation of Colorado’s famous Mile High City, Leadville’s elevation (10,152 feet) makes it one of the highest cities in the United States. With its rich deposits of gold, silver, lead, and the majority of the world’s molybdenum, Leadville played a huge role in Colorado’s mining history.
     Drawn into the area by the discovery of placer gold in nearby Oro city, huge deposits of silver and lead were discovered in unwanted mine tailings. Leadville went on to become the largest silver camp in the state, and Colorado’s second largest city.
     Today Leadville is known for its festive atmosphere. Tourists are drawn to its wonderfully restored Victorian style buildings, such as the Delaware Hotel, Tabor Opera House, city hall and St. George’s Church. Located at the junction of U.S. Route 24 and SR 91, and lying among the dramatic peaks of the Rockies, Leadville is recognized with a National Historic Landmark District designation. Thanks to an EPA superfund, the town’s mines are considered 98 percent clean. Its rich history of mine owners, millionaires, swindlers and colorful luminaries are rediscovered among the historic district’s wide streets and prominent historic buildings.