The Town of Silverton was platted in 1874 and by 1875 the population had doubled. The greatest boom to the area was the 1882 construction of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (aka the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad) which was instrumental in hauling out rich deposits of mined silver, gold and other minerals.

Silverton is now the only town left in San Juan County, CO. Its year-round population around 600 is supported by tourism (think the D&S Train, extreme skiing, seasonal festivals) rather than by mining. While summer is regarded "high season" in Silverton, winter tourism is beginning to take a foothold: Silverton Mountain opened in 1990, offering extreme skiing opportunities unlike few mountains found south of Canada.

Major sites to see include the following:
Walking Silverton

Walking Tour

While in Silverton, take an evening walking the town and explore the history and poeple who made this town the hustling and bustling community it was in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Begin your tour at the San Juan County Historical Society Mining Heritage Center and purchase the Walking Silverton: History, Sights, and Stories by Beverly Rich. The book can be purchased from the San Juan County Historical Society Mining Heritage Center, Silverton Visitor Center, or Fetch's Mining and Mercantile.
fall colors
Silverton during October.
silverton
Overview of Silverton as train arrives.
Train
Durango-Silverton train entering Silverton.
Train
Train arriving into Silverton; ; Kendall Peak in background.
Train
Engine 481.
Train
Little Dora Mine, south of town.
Photos by EMKotyk