Misplaced Pages

#88911

83-749: Leadville National Fish Hatchery established in 1889 west of Leadville, Colorado is one of 70 hatcheries in the National Fish Hatchery System . It is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service . It lies within the Mount Massive Wilderness , most of whose area lies within San Isabel National Forest and which is managed by the United States Forest Service . Leadville National Fish Hatchery

166-486: A $ 5 debt. Despite overwhelming evidence implicating him, a jury found Holliday not guilty of the shooting or attempted murder. Gunfighter and professional gambler Luke Short also spent time in Leadville. Margaret "Molly" Brown , who became known as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", moved to Leadville in 1885, when she was 18 years old. In 1886 she married a mining engineer who was twelve years older, James Joseph Brown at

249-615: A carpet of Cladonia spp. lichens . The proportion of trees to lichen mat increases southwards towards the "forest line", where trees cover 50 percent or more of the landscape. A southern treeline exists in the New Zealand Subantarctic Islands and the Australian Macquarie Island , with places where mean annual temperatures above 5 °C (41 °F) support trees and woody plants, and those below 5 °C (41 °F) do not. Another treeline exists in

332-424: A cold semi-arid climate (Bsk). The average January temperatures are a maximum of 29.5 °F (−1.4 °C) and a minimum of 4.6 °F (−15.2 °C). The average July temperatures are a maximum of 71.0 °F (21.7 °C) and a minimum of 39.2 °F (4.0 °C). There are an average of 271.7 mornings annually with freezing temperatures, which can occur in any month of the year. The record high temperature

415-490: A federal charter that was drawn in by Leadville offering a good deal on the former high school building. In 1983, Ken Chlouber partnered with Merilee Maupin to founded the Leadville Trail 100 Run, a 100-mile ultramarathon through the rugged mountain terrain around the town. It succeeded, leading them to found the still-extant Leadville Race Series, which contains a variety of races. The Leadville Race Series has become

498-579: A few mosses, lichens, and species of grass do so. In addition, no trees survive on any of the subantarctic islands near the peninsula. Southern Rata forests exist on Enderby Island and Auckland Islands (both 50°S) and these grow up to an elevation of 370 metres (1,200 ft) in sheltered valleys. These trees seldom grow above 3 m (9.8 ft) in height and they get smaller as one gains altitude, so that by 180 m (600 ft) they are waist-high. These islands have only between 600 and 800 hours of sun annually. Campbell Island (52°S) further south

581-620: A full-time female reporter. Like the Rocky Mountain News , The Chronicle took the lead in outing criminals and thieves, in an attempt to clean up the town's shady business culture. Despite violent threats, the Chronicle survived without major incident. William Nye opened the first saloon in 1877, and it was followed by many others. The same year the Coliseum Novelty was the first theater to open. It offered sleeping rooms upstairs for

664-399: A high silver content. Prospectors traced the cerussite to its source, present day Leadville, and by 1876 had discovered several silver-lead lode deposits. As the gold has been tapped out of the gulch and attention was averted to nearby Leadville, a mile or two away, Oro City became a ghost town. Leadville was founded in 1877 by mine owners Horace Tabor and August Meyer at the start of

747-569: A large price. Tabor had the last laugh when his miners dug a few feet farther and discovered a rich ore body. Some time later the manager of the Chrysolite mine fooled an outside mining engineer into overestimating the mine's ore reserves. The city's fortunes declined with the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893, although afterwards there was another small gold boom. Mining companies came to rely increasingly on income from

830-561: A letter to a London business contact, mine owner Eben Smith wrote, "The strikers got the worst of it in the raid on the Coronado and Emmet [mines], there were 10 or 12 killed; we do not know how many, and a great number wounded; they take care of their wounded the same as the Indians but every now and then a fellow turns up that the rats have been eating or who has gone to decay that we know must have been shot ..." World War II caused an increase in

913-487: A major impact on the ability of trees to place roots into the ground. When roots are too shallow, trees are susceptible to windthrow and erosion. Trees can often grow in river valleys at latitudes where they could not grow on a more exposed site. Maritime influences such as ocean currents also play a major role in determining how far from the equator trees can grow as well as the warm summers experienced in extreme continental climates. In northern inland Scandinavia there

SECTION 10

#1732854973089

996-408: A nightly rate and provided a variety of entertainments: dancing girls, dogfights, cockfighting, wrestling and boxing matches, and rooms for gambling. In June 1881, it burned to the ground. Ben Wood, who arrived in Leadville in 1878, opened the first legitimate theater, Wood's Opera House, with a thousand seats. It was a first-class theater, where gentleman removed their hats and did not smoke or drink in

1079-534: A popular endurance race series, attracting hundreds of athletes to Leadville each year. Leadville is often used as a base for altitude training and hosts a number of other events for runners and mountain bicyclists . At an elevation of 10,158 feet (3,096 m), Leadville lies close to timberline , which in Colorado is from 11,000 to 12,000 feet (3,400 to 3,700 m). The surrounding peaks are all well above 12,000 feet, and are thus bare of trees. Leadville has

1162-472: A scandal in Colorado and beyond. For several years, the couple lived a lavish lifestyle in a Denver mansion, but Tabor, one of the wealthiest men in Colorado, lost his fortune when the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act caused the Panic of 1893 . He died on April 10, 1899, of appendicitis, destitute but remained convinced that the price of silver would rebound. According to legend, he told Baby Doe to "hold on

1245-547: A school for 1,100 students. Many business buildings were constructed with bricks hauled in by wagons. In early 1878, Meyer, along with Leadville's pioneer smelter entrepreneur, Edwin Harrison, after whom the famed Harrison Avenue is named, and Tabor established a post office in Leadville, with George L. Henderson designated as postmaster on July 16, 1877. The post office and the telegraph office both prospered, with Tabor serving as postmaster from February 19 to December 13, 1878. It

1328-537: A supply of moisture through the early part of the growing season. However, snow accumulation in sheltered gullies in the Selkirk Mountains of southeastern British Columbia causes the tree line to be 400 metres (1,300 ft) lower than on exposed intervening shoulders. In some mountainous areas, higher elevations above the condensation line, or on equator-facing and leeward slopes, can result in low rainfall and increased exposure to solar radiation. This dries out

1411-486: A too-cold summer climate (tundra) that none have any indigenous tree species. The Falkland Islands (51°S) summer temperature is near the limit, but the islands are also treeless, although some planted trees exist. Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost point in Antarctica (63°S) and has the mildest weather—it is located 1,080 kilometres (670 mi) from Cape Horn on Tierra del Fuego —yet no trees survive there; only

1494-575: A visit to a local saloon, "where I saw the only rational method of art criticism I have ever come across. Over the piano was printed a notice – 'Please do not shoot the pianist. He is doing his best.'" Several other notable figures visited the Tabor Opera House, including boxer Jack Dempsey . The town has made major efforts to improve its economy by encouraging tourism and emphasizing its history and opportunities for outdoor recreation. The National Mining Museum and Hall of Fame opened in 1987 with

1577-531: Is a statutory city that is the county seat , the most populous community, and the only incorporated municipality in Lake County , Colorado , United States. The city population was 2,633 at the 2020 census . It is situated at an elevation of 10,119 feet (3,084 m). Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States and is surrounded by two of the tallest peaks in the state. Leadville

1660-555: Is a former silver mining town that lies among the headwaters of the Arkansas River within the Rocky Mountains . The Leadville Historic District , designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, contains many historic structures and sites of Leadville's mining era. In the late 19th century, Leadville was the second most populous city in Colorado, after Denver . The Leadville area was first settled in 1859 when placer gold

1743-515: Is often much lower than in corresponding altitudes inland and in larger, more complex mountain systems, because strong winds reduce tree growth. In addition, the lack of suitable soil, such as along talus slopes or exposed rock formations, prevents trees from gaining an adequate foothold and exposes them to drought and sun. The arctic tree line is the northernmost latitude in the Northern Hemisphere where trees can grow; farther north, it

SECTION 20

#1732854973089

1826-567: Is recognized around the world. Such are the vagaries of life." Alice Ivers, better known as Poker Alice , was a card player and dealer of the Old West who learned her trade in Leadville. Born in Devonshire , her family moved to America when she was a small girl. They first settled in Virginia , where she attended an elite girls' boarding school. When she was a teenager, her family moved to Leadville when

1909-537: Is substantial maritime influence on high parallels that keep winters relatively mild, but enough inland effect to have summers well above the threshold for the tree line. Here are some typical polar treelines: Trees exist on Tierra del Fuego (55°S) at the southern end of South America, but generally not on subantarctic islands and not in Antarctica. Therefore, there is no explicit Antarctic tree line. Kerguelen Island (49°S), South Georgia (54°S), and other subantarctic islands are all so heavily wind-exposed and with

1992-544: Is taken over all days whose mean temperature is above 0.9 °C (33.6 °F). A growing season of 94 days above that temperature is required for tree growth. Because of climate change , which leads to earlier snow melt and favorable conditions for tree establishment, the tree line in North Cascades National Park has risen more than 400 feet (120 m) in 50 years. Several types of tree lines are defined in ecology and geography : An alpine tree line

2075-433: Is the highest elevation that sustains trees; higher up it is too cold, or the snow cover lasts for too much of the year, to sustain trees. The climate above the tree line of mountains is called an alpine climate , and the habitat can be described as the alpine zone . Treelines on north-facing slopes in the northern hemisphere are lower than on south-facing slopes, because the increased shade on north-facing slopes means

2158-549: Is the second highest summit in the Rocky Mountains and state of Colorado, and the third highest in the contiguous United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city of Leadville has an area of 1.1 square miles (2.9 km ), all land. The lower part of California Gulch runs past the southern edge of the city, flowing west 3 miles (5 km) to the Arkansas River . Leadville has an alpine subarctic climate ( Dfc ) with cold winters and mild summers, bordering on

2241-547: Is too cold all year round to sustain trees. Extremely low temperatures, especially when prolonged, can freeze the internal sap of trees, killing them. In addition, permafrost in the soil can prevent trees from getting their roots deep enough for the necessary structural support. Unlike alpine tree lines, the northern tree line occurs at low elevations. The arctic forest–tundra transition zone in northwestern Canada varies in width, perhaps averaging 145 kilometres (90 mi) and widening markedly from west to east, in contrast with

2324-649: The Colorado Silver Boom . Tabor's house was also built in 1877, at 116 E. 5th Street. The town was built on desolate flat land below the tree line . The first miners lived in a rough tented camp near the silver deposits in California Gulch. Initially, the settlement was called "Slabtown", but when the residents petitioned for a post office, the name "Leadville" was chosen. By 1880, Tabor and Meyer's new town had gas lighting, water mains, 28 miles (45 km) of streets, five churches, three hospitals, six banks, and

2407-461: The lead and zinc . The district is credited with producing over 2.9 million troy ounces of gold, 240 million troy ounces of silver , 1 million short tons of lead, 785 thousand short tons of zinc (discovered in 1911 ), and 53 thousand short tons of copper. A bitter strike by Leadville's hard rock miners in 1896–97 led to bloodshed, at least five deaths, and the burning of the Coronado Mine. In

2490-424: The snowpack takes longer to melt. This shortens the growing season for trees. In the southern hemisphere, the south-facing slopes have the shorter growing season. The alpine tree line boundary is seldom abrupt: it usually forms a transition zone between closed forest below and treeless alpine zone above. This zone of transition occurs "near the top of the tallest peaks in the northeastern United States, high up on

2573-565: The 12,000-foot (3,700 m) elevation, and a defined portion of the village area, with specific exclusions for various buildings. The principal historic buildings are the Tabor Grand Hotel, St George's Church, Temple Israel , African Methodist Episcopal Church (est. 1881)African Methodist Episcopal Church (est. 1881), the Annunciation Church, Tabor Opera House, City Hall, Healy House , Dexter Cabin , Engelbach House, Tabor House, and

Leadville National Fish Hatchery - Misplaced Pages Continue

2656-527: The 53,804-acre Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument, preserving the area’s important historic, prehistoric, natural, and recreational values. 10 miles (16 km) north of Leadville the old downhill training slope, Cooper Hill, located atop Tennessee Pass on the Continental Divide , now operates as the Ski Cooper resort. Much of the area is above the tree line , providing a panoramic view of

2739-688: The Church of Annunciation. The Brown family acquired great wealth in 1893 when Brown was instrumental in the discovery of a substantial gold ore seam at the Little Jonny Mine. The mine was owned by his employers, the Ibex Mining Company. Margaret Brown became famous because of her survival of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic , after exhorting the crew of Lifeboat No. 6 to return to look for survivors. A 1960 Broadway musical based on her life

2822-505: The EPA reports: "A vast majority of the cleanup at the site has been completed, so current risk of exposure is low. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children are still encouraged to have their blood-lead levels checked." [1] As the population boomed, by 1878, Leadville had the reputation as one of the most lawless towns in the West . The first city marshal was run out of town a few days after he

2905-687: The Gold Rush Room with specimens of native gold, a large collection of mineral specimens, and a mining art gallery. The site also includes the Matchless Mine and cabin, former home of Baby Doe Tabor . Some historic sites are linked by the Mineral Belt National Recreation Trail , an 11.6-mile (18.7 km) all-season biking/walking trail that loops around Leadville and through its historic mining district. In part it follows old mining-camp railbeds. Interpretative kiosks recount

2988-522: The Golden Burro Cafe and Lounge, as well as mining structures and small homes. The National Mining Hall of Fame on West 9th Street is dedicated to commemorating the work of miners and people that work with natural resources. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Major exhibits include an elaborate model railroad , a walk-through replica of an underground hardrock mine,

3071-435: The Leadville area began in 1859 when prospectors discovered gold at the mouth of California Gulch . By 1872, placer mining in California Gulch yielded more than $ 2,500,000, roughly equivalent to $ 64,000,000 in 2023. In 1876, black sand , once considered bothersome to placer gold miners, was discovered to contain lead carbonates, leading to a rush of miners to the area and the founding of the town in 1877. By 1880, Leadville

3154-614: The Matchless mine   ... it will make millions again when silver comes back." She returned to Leadville with her daughters, Silver Dollar and Lily, where she spent the rest of her life believing Tabor's prediction. At one time the "best dressed woman in the West", she lived in a cabin at the Matchless Mine for the last three decades of her life. On March 7, 1935, after a snowstorm, she was found frozen in her cabin, aged about 81 years. Mining in

3237-792: The Plains with Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill Hickok , played shows at the Chestnut Street Theatre. Texas Jack had served in the Confederate Army at age 16 and subsequently joined the Tabor Light Guard, a local militia unit. Jack died of pneumonia on June 28, 1880. His funeral was held at the Tabor Opera House, and he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery. On September 8, 1908, Texas Jack's best friend and former costar Buffalo Bill Cody visited Leadville with his Wild West Show and dedicated

3320-484: The Tabor Opera House during his 1882 American Aesthetic Movement lecture tour. The reviews were mixed, and the press satirized Wilde in cartoons as an English dandy decorated with sunflowers and lilies , the floral emblems of the Aesthetic Movement. A Kansas newspaper described the event: Oscar Wilde's visit to Leadville excited a great deal of interest and curiosity. The Tabor-opera house where he lectured

3403-484: The city, and the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness is within 20 miles (32 km). Tree line At the tree line, tree growth is often sparse, stunted, and deformed by wind and cold. This is sometimes known as krummholz (German for "crooked wood"). The tree line often appears well-defined, but it can be a more gradual transition. Trees grow shorter and often at lower densities as they approach

Leadville National Fish Hatchery - Misplaced Pages Continue

3486-524: The demand for molybdenum , used to harden steel. It was mined at the nearby Climax mine , which at one time produced 75 percent of the world's output. By 1980, the Climax Mine was the largest underground mine in the world. Taxes paid by the mine provided Leadville with good schools and libraries and provided employment for many residents. When the market dropped in 1981, Leadville's economy suffered and many people lost their jobs. With little industry other than

3569-456: The desiccation of foliage , especially of shoots that project above the snow cover. The actual tree line is set by the mean temperature, while the realized tree line may be affected by disturbances, such as logging . Most human activities cannot change the actual tree line, unless they affect the climate. The tree line follows the line where the seasonal mean temperature is approximately 6 °C or 43 °F. The seasonal mean temperature

3652-514: The dry mountains of the western United States, to 1.4 °F (0.78 °C) per 1,000 feet (300 m) in the moister mountains of the eastern United States. Skin effects and topography can create microclimates that alter the general cooling trend. Compared with arctic tree lines, alpine tree lines may receive fewer than half of the number of degree days (above 10 °C (50 °F)) based on air temperature, but because solar radiation intensities are greater at alpine than at arctic tree lines

3735-416: The era, "The outpouring of the precious metal from Leadville transformed the struggling Centennial State into a veritable autocrat in the colony of states. As if by magic the rough frontier town of Denver became a metropolis; stately buildings arose on the site of shanties; crystal streams flowed through the arid plains and the desert blossomed and became fruitful. Poverty gave way to the annoyance of wealth and

3818-489: The fame of silver state spread throughout the world." Swindles were not uncommon in the mining community. When the Little Pittsburg mine was exhausted of its rich ore body, its managers sold their shares while concealing the mine's actual condition from the other stockholders. "Chicken Bill" Lovell dumped a wheelbarrow load of silver-rich ore into a barren pit on his Chrysolite claim in order to sell it to Horace Tabor for

3901-575: The family since the 1960s. The town has frequent, sometimes small parades held in the downtown area, such as the quirky St Patrick's Day Practice Parade. The Leadville Trail 100 , an ultramarathon , takes place each August since 1983 on an out-and-back course on trails around Turquoise Lake, over Hagerman Pass , the Colorado Trail, through Twin Lakes, across the Arkansas River, up and over Hope Pass, to

3984-453: The first full weekend of August, is a tribute to the city's mining past. The event has been honored by Congress as a Local Legacy Event. The festivities held over three days include mining competitions and burro racing , motorcycle games, a rod and gun show, live music, a craft fair and parade. The annual skijoring event and Crystal Carnival take place in March. This is a horse-drawn skiing for

4067-505: The ghost town of Winfield . The "Route of the Silver Kings" is a driving tour of the 20-square-mile (52 km ) historic mining district. The tour passes mines, power plants, ghost towns and mining camps. Situated within the San Isabel National Forest and surrounded by three wilderness areas, Leadville is popular with hikers and campers. The Mount Massive Wilderness and Buffalo Peaks Wilderness are within 10 miles (16 km) of

4150-440: The giant volcanoes in central Mexico, and on mountains in each of the 11 western states and throughout much of Canada and Alaska". Environmentally dwarfed shrubs ( krummholz ) commonly form the upper limit. The decrease in air temperature with increasing elevation creates the alpine climate. The rate of decrease can vary in different mountain chains, from 3.5 °F (1.9 °C) per 1,000 feet (300 m) of elevation gain in

4233-608: The highest elevation of any city in the United States. Leadville lies in a valley at the headwaters of the Arkansas River which flows through the southern Rocky Mountains and eventually empties into the Mississippi River . It is situated between two mountain ranges, the Mosquito Range to the east and the Sawatch Range to the west, both of which include several nearby peaks with elevations above 14,000 feet (4,300 m),

SECTION 50

#1732854973089

4316-566: The history and a photograph of what was on that particular site more than a century ago. The trail is well-marked with interpretive signs and altitude and mileage markers. Created by Executive Order in 1889 to increase the supply of fish for inland waters, the Leadville National Fish Hatchery was established. Camp Hale is located 15 miles (24 km) north of Leadville in the Eagle River valley north of Tennessee Pass . It

4399-437: The number of degree days calculated from leaf temperatures may be very similar. At the alpine tree line, tree growth is inhibited when excessive snow lingers and shortens the growing season to the point where new growth would not have time to harden before the onset of fall frost. Moderate snowpack, however, may promote tree growth by insulating the trees from extreme cold during the winter, curtailing water loss, and prolonging

4482-478: The only source of recreation for the trainees, Leadville was persuaded to change its moral character, perceived "to be on a rather low plane" at the time. In 2019, Camp Hale was designated as a National Historic Site offering a self-guiding tour with interpretive signs at ten stops and a larger interpretive site at the main entrance. President Biden used his authority under the Antiquities Act in 2022 to establish

4565-458: The peaks of the Sawatch Range to visitors. A memorial to troops of the 10th Mountain Division is located at the summit. The Evergreen Cemetery was the first cemetery in Leadville, established on November 1, 1879. The town's first library was built in 1904. A federal building was built in 1905 on Harrison Avenue and 8th Street. It served as the town post office until 1973. Boom Days, held on

4648-547: The permanent memorial that marks Texas Jack's grave today. The Texas Jack Association erected highway historical markers on roads in and out of Leadville. In the summer of 1879, American author and illustrator Mary Hallock Foote arrived in Leadville. It is believed her time in Leadville inspired her writing. In 1882, shortly after the gun fight at the O.K. Corral , Doc Holliday arrived in Leadville, where he dealt faro . On August 19, 1884, he shot ex-Leadville policeman Billy Allen, who had threatened him for failing to pay

4731-464: The predominance of conifers ): The alpine tree line at a location is dependent on local variables, such as aspect of slope, rain shadow and proximity to either geographical pole . In addition, in some tropical or island localities, the lack of biogeographical access to species that have evolved in a subalpine environment can result in lower tree lines than one might expect by climate alone. Averaging over many locations and local microclimates ,

4814-627: The presence of a lady. Less than a year later, Wood opened the Windsor Hotel. His opera house was regarded as the largest and best theater constructed in the West , an honor it held until the opening of the Tabor Opera House . Horace Tabor's Opera House was the most costly structure in Colorado at the time. Building materials were brought by wagons from Denver. The massive three-story opera house, constructed of stone, brick, and iron, opened on November 20, 1879. Tabor, originally from Vermont , became

4897-427: The silver boom drew hundreds of new residents to the area. At the age of twenty she married a mining engineer who, like many of the men at that time, frequented the numerous gambling halls in Leadville. Alice went along, at first just observing, but eventually she began to sit in on the games as well. After a few years of marriage her husband was killed in a mining accident and she turned to cards to support herself. Alice

4980-678: The so-called fourteeners . Mount Elbert , 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Leadville, is the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America and the highest point in the Colorado and the entire Mississippi River drainage basin . An ultra-prominent 14,440-foot (4,401 m) fourteener, Mount Elbert is the highest summit of the Sawatch Range and the second-highest summit in the contiguous United States after Mount Whitney in California. Mount Massive , 10.6 mi (17.1 km) west-southwest of Leadville, at 14,428 ft (4,398 m)

5063-462: The soil, resulting in a localized arid environment unsuitable for trees. Many south-facing ridges of the mountains of the Western U.S. have a lower treeline than the northern faces because of increased sun exposure and aridity. Hawaii's treeline of about 8,000 ft (2,400 m) is also above the condensation zone and results due to a lack of moisture. On coasts and isolated mountains, the tree line

SECTION 60

#1732854973089

5146-453: The southwesternmost parts of the Magellanic subpolar forests ecoregion, where the forest merges into the subantarctic tundra (termed Magellanic moorland or Magellanic tundra). For example, the northern halves of Hoste and Navarino Islands have Nothofagus antarctica forests but the southern parts consist of moorlands and tundra. Some typical Arctic and alpine tree line tree species (note

5229-713: The spring of 1880, Texas Jack Omohundro and his wife Giuseppina Morlacchi arrived in Leadville. Morlacchi, a famous Italian prima ballerina who had introduced the Can-can dance to the United States, performed several plays at the Grand Central Theatre, including Around the World in 80 Days and The Black Crook . Texas Jack, who had starred in The Scouts of the Prairie with Buffalo Bill Cody and Ned Buntline , and later in The Scouts of

5312-454: The telescoped alpine timberlines. North of the arctic tree line lies the low-growing tundra , and southwards lies the boreal forest . Two zones can be distinguished in the arctic tree line: a forest–tundra zone of scattered patches of krummholz or stunted trees, with larger trees along rivers and on sheltered sites set in a matrix of tundra; and "open boreal forest" or "lichen woodland", consisting of open groves of erect trees underlain by

5395-569: The tourist trade, most of the former miners left, and the standard of living declined. Climax reopened in 2008 and started production in 2010. It currently is the most efficient mine producing molybdenum in Colorado and is estimated to have a production life of thirty years. The many years of mining left behind substantial contamination of the soil and water and the Environmental Protection Agency designated some former mines Superfund sites, such as California Gulch . As of 2019,

5478-514: The town's first mayor. After striking it rich, he had an estimated net worth of 10 million dollars and was known for his extravagant lifestyle. In February 1879 the Lake County seat was moved to Leadville, where it has remained ever since. In 1879, An impressive courthouse was built on the west side of Harrison Avenue, joined by a new post office that same year. Telephone service was introduced by Western Union on May 15, 1879, and gas lighting downtown

5561-444: The tree line, above which they are unable to grow at all. Given a certain latitude, the tree line is approximately 300 to 1000 meters below the permanent snow line and roughly parallel to it. Due to their vertical structure, trees are more susceptible to cold than more ground-hugging forms of plants. Summer warmth generally sets the limit to which tree growth can occur: while tree line conifers are very frost-hardy during most of

5644-517: The treeline rises 75 metres (245 ft) when moving 1 degree south from 70 to 50°N, and 130 metres (430 ft) per degree from 50 to 30°N. Between 30°N and 20°S, the treeline is roughly constant, between 3,500 and 4,000 metres (11,500 and 13,100 ft). Here is a list of approximate tree lines from locations around the globe: Like the alpine tree lines shown above, polar tree lines are heavily influenced by local variables such as aspect of slope and degree of shelter. In addition, permafrost has

5727-469: The year, they become sensitive to just 1 or 2 degrees of frost in mid-summer. A series of warm summers in the 1940s seems to have permitted the establishment of "significant numbers" of spruce seedlings above the previous treeline in the hills near Fairbanks, Alaska . Survival depends on a sufficiency of new growth to support the tree. Wind can mechanically damage tree tissues directly , including blasting with windborne particles, and may also contribute to

5810-455: Was 1.70 inches (43.2 mm) on February 13, 1986. Average annual snowfall is 156.9 inches (3.99 m). The most snowfall in one year was 362.0 inches (9.19 m) in 1995. The most snowfall in one month was 77.6 inches (1.97 m) in May 1995. The Leadville Historic District was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. The district encompasses 67 mines east of the city up to

5893-485: Was 86 °F (30.0 °C) on July 17, 2023. The record low temperature was −38 °F (−38.9 °C) on February 1, 1985. Average annual precipitation is 13.52 inches (343.4 mm). The wettest calendar year was 2014 with 18.08 inches (459.2 mm) and the driest 1994 with 8.27 inches (210.1 mm). The most precipitation in one month was 4.83 inches (122.7 mm) in January 1996. The most precipitation in 24 hours

5976-400: Was a U.S. Army ski warfare training facility constructed in 1942 for what became the 10th Mountain Division . Some of the nation's finest skiers were employed as instructors. Soldiers were trained in mountain climbing, Alpine and Nordic skiing, and cold-weather survival, as well as various weapons and ordnance. When it was in full operation, approximately 15,000 soldiers were housed there. As

6059-400: Was appointed as the postmaster of Oro City on November 30, 1868. His wife made money as postmistress, banker, cook, and laundress while Tabor was a prospector. The early miners had noted that mining for placer gold was hampered by heavy black sand in the sluice boxes , and in 1874 it was discovered that the heavy sand that impeded gold recovery was the lead mineral cerussite , which has

6142-477: Was appointed, and his replacement was shot dead within a month by one of his deputies. Fearing the town would be lost to the lawless element, Mayor Horace Tabor sent for Mart Duggan , who was living in Denver, as a replacement. Duggan was well known at the time as a fearless gunfighter. Using strong-arm and lawless tactics, during his two stints as marshal, Duggan brought order to Leadville by 1880 when he stepped down. He

6225-448: Was attractive, dressed in the latest fashions, and was in great demand as a dealer. Eventually Alice left Leadville to travel the gambling circuit, as was common of the male gamblers of that time. She continued to dress in the latest fashions but took to smoking cigars. Well known throughout the West, gambling halls welcomed her because she was good for business. Alice said that she won more than $ 250,000 by gambling during her lifetime. In

6308-702: Was discovered by A. G. Kelley in California Gulch , and by Abe Lee in April (25/26) 1860, during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush . Prospectors panned for gold in the stream that ran through California Gulch in what became the town of Oro City ( oro is the Spanish word for gold). Horace Tabor , who became known as the "Leadville Silver King", and his wife Augusta were among the first prospectors to arrive in Oro City. Horace

6391-421: Was installed on November 18 that same year. Billings and Eilers Smelter installed a generator and lights for the town on May 13, 1881. On May 19, 1882, a large fire broke out at the corner of Harrison Avenue and East Chestnut. Horace Tabor divorced his wife of 25 years and married Baby Doe McCourt on September 30, 1882, who was half his age. Tabor was by then a US senator , and the divorce and marriage caused

6474-459: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. [REDACTED] Media related to Leadville National Fish Hatchery at Wikimedia Commons This article about a property in Colorado on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Leadville, Colorado Leadville ( / ˈ l ɛ d v ɪ l / LED -vil )

6557-434: Was one of the world's largest and richest silver camps, with a population of more than 15,000. Income from more than thirty mines and ten large smelting works produced gold, silver, and lead amounting to $ 15,000,000 annually. The Leadville strike of 1880 was the first major labor conflict in the central Colorado silver boomtown, shutting down most of the area’s mining district from May 26, 1880. According to one historian of

6640-466: Was packed full. It was rumored that an attempt would be made by a number of young men to ridicule him by coming to the lecture in exaggerated costume with enormous sunflowers and lilies and to introduce a number of characters in the costume of the Western "bad men". Probably, however, better counsel prevailed and no disturbance took place. Mayor David H. Dougan invited Wilde to tour the Matchless Mine and name its new lode "The Oscar". Wilde later recounted

6723-651: Was produced, along with a 1964 film adaptation of the musical, both titled The Unsinkable Molly Brown . Her home in Denver has been preserved as the Molly Brown House Museum. Meyer Guggenheim of the Guggenheim family started out in Leadville in mining and smelting . The family went on to possess one of the largest fortunes in the world. Family members have become known for their philanthropy in diverse areas such as modern art and aviation, including several Guggenheim Museums . Oscar Wilde appeared in April at

6806-452: Was said that the Leadville post office was the busiest one between St. Louis and San Francisco. In 1878, the town's first hospital, St. Vincent's, was opened. The town's first newspaper was The Reveille , a Republican weekly, in 1878. Three months later, a competing Democratic weekly, The Eclipse , emerged. The Chronicle was the town's first daily and first newspaper in America to employ

6889-417: Was shot and killed in 1888 by an unknown assailant, most likely an enemy he had made when he was a Leadville marshal. Historian Robert Dearment writes, "Mart Duggan was a quick-shooting, hard-drinking, brawling tough Irish man, but he was exactly the kind of man a tough, hard-drinking, quick-shooting camp like Leadville needed in its earliest days. His name is all but forgotten today, but the name " Matt Dillon "

#88911