Gothic, Colorado
Gothic | |
|---|---|
| Gothic, Colorado | |
 Gothic, Colorado, behind some buildings of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory | |
  Gothic Gothic | |
| Coordinates: 38°57′33″N 106°59′23″W / 38.9592°N 106.9897°W | |
| Elevation | 2,900 m (9,500 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | Seasonal |
| Time zone | Mountain |
Gothic, Colorado is a ghost town in the American state of Colorado. It is in the West Elk Mountains.
Now, it is not a true ghost town, as in the warmer months it is the high-altitude biological field station of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, near Crested Butte.
Gothic's history
[edit]In 1879, an explosion at the nearby Sylvanite Mine rocked the Gothic area. The blast shot strands of "wire-silver." Soon, prospectors arrived, and Gothic exploded.
Getting its name from Gothic Mountain, Gothic was incorporated on July 17, 1879, a mining town.[1] Gothic was a silver boomtown in the 1880s, and had over 100 residents and a post office. Also discovered was galena, gold, ruby silver ore, and pyrite.
In 1880, former US president Ulysses S. Grant visited. Horace Tabor put money in the Elk Mountain Bonanza newspaper. Reality seemed ideal. [2]
Silver prices crashed with the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893. By 1914, town had one resident. From the initial building boom, only the saloon still stands.[3]
Over a decade since Gothic had been declared a ghost town, the land was purchased by one Dr. John Johnson. It was converted into the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. In the summer, around 160 live there,[4] and billy barr, who prefers lower-case, has been there since 1973, and has done important enviromental observations.[5].[6]
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See also
[edit]
- Bibliography of Colorado
- Billy Barr (naturalist)
- Geography of Colorado
- History of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- List of Colorado-related lists
- Outline of Colorado
External links and references
[edit]- Current weather in and round Gothic
- Much history
- Things to do in Gothic
- https://www.uncovercolorado.com/ghost-towns/gothic/ Uncovercolorado.com on Gothic]
- A modern map of Gothic, complete with the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
- ghosttowns.com on Gothic
- Some photos
- The Colorado Ghost Town Of Gothic Has A History Thanks To This Century-Old Laboratory. Now It Has A Future, Too
References
[edit]- ^ "Early Mining and Transportation in Southwestern Colorado 1860-1881". US National Park Service. November 20, 2008.
- ^ "Gothic, Colorado". Gothic, Colorado.
- ^ "History Colorado". History Colorado. January 1, 2006.
- ^ "The Story Behind This Ghost Town In Colorado Is Bizarre But True". The Story Behind This Ghost Town In Colorado Is Bizarre But True. August 25, 2016.
- ^ "Billy Barr: The Snow Guardian". The Atlantic. January 30, 2017.
- ^ Brulliard, Karin (November 28, 2021). "He spent almost 50 years alone at 10,000 feet. His hobby helped shape climate research in the Rockies". The Seattle Times.
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