Discovery and extraction of precious metals was a major impetus for settling the American West, beginning with the California gold rush in 1849 and…

Due to its occupation by the Utes, the San Juan region developed a decade and a half after the Pikes Peak gold rush of 1858 - 1859 had populated the…

Lake City's rapid growth and development during its 1875 - 1878 settlement period resulted from this intense interest and speculation.  Platted in…

Transportation was critical to settlement and development of Lake City and the mining districts in northern Hinsdale County.  From 1874 through 1889…

Road construction was accomplished through private enterprise during the first decades after Colorado Territory was formed on February 28, 1861.  The…

Upon opening of the San Juan region, three railroad companies announced intentions of constructing track from the Front Range to the San Juan region…

Lake City was significant as the supply and milling center for the eastern San Juan region.  Its late 1870s development encouraged mining investment…

Six mining districts were established in northern Hinsdale County - Cimarron, Galena, Lake, Sherman, Carson, and Park districts.    A seventh district…

Ore was processed in Lake City from 1876 through 1885.  The Van Gieson Lixivation Works opened in 1876 at the southern edge of town.  That same year…

Hinsdale County production remained modest compared to the other San Juan counties.  In 1891, Hinsdale produced $80,000 in silver, ranking seventh out…

Lake City was platted in fall 1874 during construction of the Saguache & San Juan Wagon Toll Road from Saguache to Baker's Park (Silverton).

Lake City's growth fell short of original expectations.  The east side of the 1875 plat - fifteen blocks and five fractional blocks -  remained…

During the first three years, Lake City progressed rapidly from settlement to town.  At first, most buildings consisted of crude, one-room log cabins…

By 1878, Lake City's settlement boom had ended.  Mining experienced a sharp decline because major mineral deposits had been located and depleted…

During 1870s, the business district developed in the 100 - 300 blocks of Silver Street and Gunnison Avenue.  By 1883, the commercial district…

Lake City offered a full range of entertainment-related businesses associated with a male-dominated mining town.

At least a score of carpenters, contractors, and stone masons worked in Lake City during the 1875 - 1878 building boom.

Lake City's leading businessmen included engineers, lawyers, bankers, mining investors, and merchants.

Henry Finley was instrumental in the development of the upper Lake Fork valley through his varied ownerships of sawmills, brick yards and toll roads…

John Simpson Hough (1833-1919) was among the founding businessmen and mining capitalists of Lake City.

Prominent Colorado attorney John Calhoun Bell (1851-1933) conducted a law office in Lake City from 1876 until 1885 and was prosecuting attorney in…

Henry A. Avery (1847-1923) formed Lake City's first stationery and book dealership with Mr. Rice. In addition to Rice, Avery was in partnership with J…

The Crooke brothers, John J. Crooke and Lewis Crooke, were based in England and New York City, the latter location where they operated a tin…

Smith C. Foote (1850 - 1883), a Colorado Springs capitalist, erected a large frame building on the southeast corner of Third and Silver where he…

J. W. Brockett (ca 1828 - 1904) owned a succession of stores extending from the street to alley on the northwest corner of Gunnison Avenue and Third…

H.L. Franklin owned various business buildings in the 200 and 300 blocks of Silver Street.  Little biographical information is known about Franklin…

Early Lake City residents included lawyers, assayers, mining engineers, and surveyors who aided prospectors in staking, evaluating, and recording…

Civic-minded residents shaped Lake City's early political, religious, educational, social, and cultural institutions.