History of Leadville and Lake County, Colorado

by Don L. Griswold, Jean Harvey Griswold

In 1878 the name "Leadville" became synonymous with one of the world's greatest silver-producing regions. During the 1880s, when Leadville's economy was at its peak, the town was the second largest in Colorado, a mecca for prospectors, gamblers, retailers, performing artists, and entrepreneurs. In many respects, its history epitomizes the volatile character of Colorado's mining industry--from the rush to establish businesses, schools, churches, and newspapers in a booming mining camp to the conflict and violence of the miner's strike of 1896. More than forty years ago, Don L. Griswold and his wife, Jean Harvey Griswold, set out to describe the social, political, and economic life that grew out of Leadville's hard-rock industry. Their story of Leadville and Lake County stretches from the earliest explorations of the Upper Arkansas Valley to the beginnings of molybdenum mining in the twentieth century. A veritable encyclopedia of historical information, this massive two-volume, fully indexed reference work includes rare photographs from the Griswolds' personal collection and a bibliographic overview of Leadville's history by Colorado historian James E. Fell, Jr. Told with grace, humor, and authority, The History of Leadville and Lake County, Colorado is an invaluable reference tool for historians, genealogists, and any who seek a deeper understanding of the rich history of this mining town in Colorado's high country.

2250 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1996

Reviews

[Lorian Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I meant Don Griswold a few times when I worked for his attorney. He was a kind gentle man who with his wife Jean, spent quite a bit of time researching Leadville's history. I am lucky I was given the two volume set by his nephew. This two volume set of books is well worth the time spent reading and the care needed to understand the history in the Twin Lakes area. I enjoyed reading about the Wild West Town of Leadville Colorado, one of my favorite places to visit even though the air is very thin at 10,152 feet