Telluride hasn’t always been the charming ski resort town you know it as today. It has experienced many different purposes over the centuries, offering a history that dates back to the 11th century and serving as a summer home for the Ute Indians in the 18th century, opening up its belly and providing gold and silver to the miners in the 1870s, and nearly becoming a ghost town after silver prices plummeted, the mining boom busted, and World War I began. Our once flourishing town suffered a population decline from tens of thousands to a measly few hundred residents, and things looked gloomy until the 1970s, when Telluride Ski Resort opened and the white powder on the slopes became our new gold! Today, our town has often been named the “Best US Ski Town” and once again people from all over the world flock to our doorstep, but traces of that Telluride, Colorado history can still be found in historical landmarks in Telluride that remain standing throughout its acreage. Even some of our Accommodations in Telluride still retain the historical flavor of the past, offering modern conveniences in spaces that the echoes of days long past can still be heard. History buffs will love their classic accents and will enjoy a tour of the town that includes the historical landmarks we present in this guide!
Wood Ear Whiskey Lounge Noodle Bar, 135 E Colorado Avenue
Although the food and drink served here at Wood Ear ARE simply divine, it’s not the food we are sending Telluride, Colorado history buffs towards, but the building in which this newer restaurant is located. The historic Roma Bar building is the site of Telluride’s rowdiest saloon, dating back to the 1860s! Located in the basement and still featuring the original hand carved bar from its first incarnation, guests can still feel the presence of the early guests and can maybe even hear the music playing, the conversations being held, and the clinking of glasses as the ghosts from our past continue to live on throughout eternity, partying as hard today as they did almost two centuries ago!
Sheridan Opera House, 110 N Oak Street
Built in 1913 by Telluride miners as a vaudeville theater, the Sheridan Opera House is a thriving part of our arts community over 100 years later and is often the center of events that take place in town, including the Wild West Fest held in June and Mountainfilm, a popular independent film festival held every May. The theater itself seats just 230 people and retains its original charm, offering a wood stage surrounded by heavy velvet curtains, balconies with intricately carved designs on their facades, and lights that frame the stage, resembling a Broadway mirror that can probably be found in the backstage dressing rooms. Over the decades the most popular film, song, and theater stars have performed on the stage, including Lillian Gish, Sarah Bernhardt, Jimmy Buffet, and Jewel!
Telluride Historical Museum, 201 W Gregory Avenue
Offering a peek back into the long and fascinating history of Telluride, the Telluride Historical Museum was built as a hospital all the way back in 1896 and serves as a reminder of everything our town has experienced over the years. Its permanent exhibits tell the tales of the Ute Indians that were its earliest settlers, the stories of the miners who first put the town on the map, and all the secrets of the red light district that thrived, also during the mining days. The most famous of its exhibits, however, is the Telluride Blanket found in a cave in 1896. Woven on a loom and made from tan and white cotton, the blanket dates back to 1050 and is considered a national treasure!
Explore Historical Landmarks in Telluride at the Telluride Historical District
The wild, wild, west still lives on in the form of historical architecture found in the historical district of Telluride. The buildings here may have once served as saloons, hospitals, and boarding houses during the rough and rowdy mining days, and although they have been preserved, today they may house gourmet restaurants and upscale boutiques as well as theaters and other types of businesses. Built of red brick and wood, these buildings are an integral part of Telluride’s mountain charm and the oldest ones all offer metal plaques that tell their stories!
Accommodations in Telluride Shares Some of the History of Our Mountain Town
And as we mentioned earlier, some of our town of Telluride homes offer links back to the wilder days as well! Rent a historical home that still retains much of its period charms, and revel in soaking in claw foot tubs, the feel of well sanded and polished original hardwood floors beneath your feet, and enjoy the original moldings, windows, and doors, while also discovering that modern conveniences can be blended in with the past. State-of-the-art televisions, name-brand ranges and appliances, and high-speed internet ensure that your step into the past can be an enjoyable 21st century adventure. Reserve your favorite today!
