Monument Rocks in Western Kansas
Photo: C. 1887. Telluride, Colorado. Dave Wood freight outfit’s ox team on Main Street in 1887. Photo credit: Museums of Western Colorado. # 1980.0013.0185
Officially founded in 1878, Telluride bore the moniker "Columbia" at its inception. However, owing to confusion arising from its Californian namesake, a change of name took place in 1887, and "Telluride" was born. The name is derived from tellurium, a metalloid element known for its tendency to form natural tellurides.
Telluride's progress was initially hindered by its isolation, but a turning point came in 1881 when Otto Mears opened a toll road, enabling wagon travel through previously inaccessible terrain. This development attracted more settlers, although the challenge of transporting valuable gold-rich ore remained.
In June 1889, Butch Cassidy, before his infamous association with the "Wild Bunch" gang, committed his first major recorded crime by robbing the San Miguel Valley Bank. Getting away with a staggering sum of $24,580, Cassidy's legacy as an infamous bank robber was set in motion.
1891 heralded the arrival of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, masterminded by Otto Mears. Extending further into the valley, the railroad reached Pandora and played a pivotal role in facilitating the transportation of miners and goods. This newfound connectivity ushered in a brief but remarkable era of prosperity for Telluride, albeit abruptly disrupted by the Silver Panic of 1893.
1891 further witnessed a pioneering endeavor when Telluride's L. L. Nunn collaborated with the renowned George Westinghouse to construct the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant. This remarkable facility harnessed alternating current power and provided it to the Gold King Mine, situated 3.5 miles away. This achievement marked a significant milestone, serving as a testament to the feasibility of transmitting industrial grade alternating current power over substantial distances.
Berlin, 1945. A plane hangs from the top of a five-story-building.
