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The Lake County War

In Chaffee County (once part of Lake County), the Lake County War was a series of events that led to the formation of a vigilante group that used illegal arrests…

The Stagecoach Robbery Mystery

In 1879, when the silver boom was at its peak, loads of the precious metal were being shipped from Leadville to Buena Vista via stagecoach. The days and times of…

Doc Holliday After the OK Corral

John Henry “Doc” Holliday was a dentist who suffered from tuberculosis. He moved to Tombstone, Arizona for its dry climate. There, he became a fierce gambler, befriended Wyatt Earp, and…

The Famous Love Story of Horace and Baby Doe Tabor

Elizabeth McCourt, born in Wisconsin in 1854, was noted for being extremely charismatic and beautiful. In 1877, she married Harvey Doe. Together, they moved to Central City to work the…

Con Artist Soapy Smith Gets His Start in Leadville

Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith was a con artist, gangster, crime boss, and saloon and gambling hall owner who rose to fame while in Denver from roughly 1879 to 1892. Though…

The Wild Stories of Leadville

A host of vibrant characters has passed through Leadville, leaving stories of love, wealth, and vindication in their wake. The discoveries of gold and silver brought tens of thousands of…

Gold and Silver Bring the Boom to Leadville

At the end of the California gold rush, some prospectors came to the eastern Rocky Mountains, hoping for the same kind of success. Placer gold was discovered in Cherry Creek…