St Elmo and Tin Cup Ghost Towns
This past weekend I visited two places I have wanted to see, but in nearly 19 years in Colorado had not made the trip to do so. I went with two friends, one also a photographer, and we had a GREAT time! St Elmo and Tin Cup are both what remain of once thriving mining towns, high in the mountains of Colorado. St Elmo, at 10,006 feet in elevation, was founded in 1880 and at one time had a population of 2,000. It is one of Colorado's best preserved examples of a 'ghost town', and enjoys alot of attention in the summer from tourists looking for a piece of old west history, and folks with jeeps and ATVs exploring the old mine roads. Tin Cup, named after a miner who carried his gold back to camp in a tin cup in 1859, wasn't laid out as a town until 1879. In 1880 the census claimed 1,495 citizens. All of the buildings, and there are many, in Tin Cup are privately owned and serve as summer places for their owners. I was told, however, that there are two hardy souls who insist on remaining year year round. This past winter saw 14 feet of snow. That would do it for me....
This post and these images are for Karen Fiddler and Gail MacMillan, who asked for BIG photos.
Alrighty then :)
"The Final View" Tin Cup Cemetery - Boot Hill Tin Cup, Colorado
"Brothel" Main St, St Elmo, Colorado
"Cross" Boot Hill, Tin Cup Cemetery - Tin Cup, Colorado
Jail and Town Hall - St Elmo, Colorado
"Number 8" - St Elmo, Colorado
"Restful View" Tin Cup Cemetery, The Catholic Knoll - Tin Cup, Colorado
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