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Interesting Facts
- Before the first Spanish explorers 'discovered' this part of modern-day Colorado, the proud Utes made annual migrations here in the quest for deer and elk. The natural beauty of the mountains and of the San Miguel River were not lost on the Utes, who regarded the region as sacred and referred to it as the "Valley of Hanging Waterfalls." Pay one visit to a place like magical Bridal Veil Falls, and it's easy to see why the Utes so revered the area.
- In the 1970s, Telluride almost had to shut down after many of its long-time residents were forced to move away in search of work. Indeed, the city economy took a major blow when nearby mines began shutting down. Fortunately, town leaders realized that Telluride had two other resources on which it could base its fortunes: great hills and even better annual snowfall. The result, of course, is one of the top ski resorts in the Rockies – a place that now attracts thousands upon thousands of people from all over the world each year!
- Humble beginnings? Telluride was a boomtown established by miners and prospectors during the height of the Colorado Gold Rush. Unlike many other such settlements, the town endured long after the Gold Rush had fizzled out. It was officially incorporated in 1878. Now, present-day Telluride is a National Historic District, and some of its more noteworthy buildings include the Miguel County Courthouse and the Sheridan Hotel.
- Stick 'em up, pal! Legendary cowboy-turned-bank robber Butch Cassidy staged his first bank holdup in Telluride on 24 June 1889. He and a crew that included Matt Warner and Tom McCarty made off with over $20,000 from the San Miguel Valley Bank.
- Not one to support the gold standard over working-class people, Illinois-born William Jennings Bryan delivered his famed "Cross of Gold" speech from a platform in front of the New Sheridan Hotel, hoping to boost his standing in an up-coming presidential election. A noted orator and staunch progressive, Bryan holds the dubious distinction of losing three presidential elections. His losses came to William McKinley in 1896 and 1900 and to William Howard Taft in 1908.
- Without a doubt, Telluride will never be accused of not being able to throw a good party. Need proof? Just take a look at the city's annual calendar of events, which shows something fun going on in every season. Spring brings the Mountain Film Festival, while summer months boast the Bluegrass Festival, the Telluride Wine Festival, the Mushroom Festival, and the Telluride Film Festival. Then, once the first snow hits the ground, Telluride and Mountain Village stay packed all season with skiers, snowboarders, and other winter sports enthusiasts.
- What's in a name? One school of thought has the town's name originating from tellurium, an element that improves the machinability of copper and stainless steel in commercial use. (More important to turn-of-the-century residents was that tellurium contains high yields of gold and silver.) When founded in 1878, Telluride was known as Columbia; however, it was often confused with a town of the same name in California. Eventually, the settlement took on its more unique moniker.
- How about a little numbers game? In the 2000 census, Telluride's year-round population was estimated to be just over 2,200 people. While this is double the 1980 estimates, it's less than half of the 5000 people who called Telluride "home" in 1890, during the heyday of the mining industry.
- The most pivotal by-product of Telluride's "white gold rush" is Mountain Village, completed in 1995. Located at around 9500 feet, it offers tourists a modern, European-style resort village surrounded by steep, snow-covered mountains. Today, Mountain Village's popularity couldn't be higher, thanks in large part to the 730-plus acre Prospect Bowl, which adds unparalleled terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all ages.
- The first "City of Lights"? Indeed! In 1892, Telluride stepped ahead of the rest of the world when its electric street lamps flickered on for the first time. What was the source of this modern-day marvel? Why, the world's very first alternating current station, of course, located just outside of Telluride and designed by George Westinghouse, L.L. Nunn, and Nikola Tesla.
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