Gilman, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gilman, Colorado
|
|
|---|---|
|
Town
|
|
Gilman in 2020, showing the abandoned houses and part of the old mine
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| Counties | Eagle |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Elevation | 8,951 ft (2,728 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (MST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| ZIP code |
81645
|
Gilman is an abandoned town in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. It used to be a busy mining town. A post office served Gilman from 1886 to 1986. Today, mail for Gilman goes through nearby Minturn.
Gilman was started in 1886 during the Colorado Silver Boom, when many people came looking for silver. Later, it became important for mining lead and zinc at the Eagle Mine. The town was left empty in 1984. The EPA ordered this because of harmful pollution, especially in the water. Also, the mines were no longer making enough money.
Now, Gilman is a ghost town on private land. No one is allowed to visit it. When the town closed, the mines belonged to a company called Gulf and Western Industries.
In 2007, a company called The Ginn Company wanted to build a private ski resort near Gilman. This plan included building homes in the old town area. In 2008, the town of Minturn approved these plans. However, by 2009, The Ginn Company stopped their development plans. Another company, Crave Real Estate Ventures, took over the property.
Contents
About Gilman: A Town on a Cliff
Gilman is located high up, at about 8,950 feet (2,728 meters) above sea level. It sits on a tall cliff, about 600 feet (183 meters) above the Eagle River. You can find it southeast of Minturn along U.S. Highway 24.
As you drive along the highway, you can still see parts of the old town. There are also newer houses built on the mountain nearby, close to where the old mines were.
The mining area around Gilman became the richest and most successful in Eagle County. Miners found valuable minerals like zinc, copper, and lead deep underground. These minerals were found in different types of rock formations.
Gilman's Mining History
Early Discoveries and Growth
Mining started around Battle Mountain in 1879, when the Colorado Silver Boom began. The town of Gilman and its mines were developed in the 1880s by John Clinton. He was a prospector and businessman from nearby Red Cliff.
In 1887, gold and silver were found at the Ground Hog Mine. This mine kept producing gold and silver until the 1920s. John Clinton bought many mining operations in the area, including the Iron Mask mine. This mine was known for its caves with beautiful crystal formations.
Clinton helped build Gilman to keep miners living there. He gave land for the first school and built the first boarding house for workers. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad reached a nearby mining camp called Belden in 1882. By 1899, Gilman had about 300 people and its own newspaper, the Gilman Enterprise.
Challenges and Changes in Mining
As miners dug deeper, they found a lot of zinc in the ore. At first, the places that bought the ore didn't want it because of all the zinc. In 1905, special machines were installed to separate the zinc. This turned the problem into a way to make money.
Mining then focused more on zinc. However, the Eagle Mine was still the top producer of silver in Colorado in 1930.
New Ownership and Closure
The New Jersey Zinc Company came to Gilman in 1912. Over time, they bought all the main mines and the entire town. Zinc was the most important product until 1931. Low zinc prices forced the company to mine copper and silver instead.
Zinc production started again in 1941 and remained the main product until the mines closed in the 1980s. In the 1960s, a few hundred people lived in Gilman. The town had a small hospital, a grocery store, and even a bowling alley.
By 1970, the mines had produced a huge amount of ore. This included millions of ounces of gold and silver, and thousands of tons of copper, lead, and zinc.
After the mine closed and the town was abandoned, the area became a "Superfund site." This happened in 1986 because of the large amount of mine waste and pollution. The EPA listed it as a priority cleanup site.
Gilman Today: A Ghost Town's State
The town of Gilman has been damaged by vandalism. Many buildings are covered in graffiti. There are only a few windows left that are still intact. Years of vandalism have broken almost every glass object in the town.
However, some parts of Gilman look much like they did when the mine closed. The main elevator shafts for the ore cars are still there, stuck at the top level. Several cars and trucks were left behind in their garages by their owners.
Because of its size and how much of it is still standing, Gilman is interesting to historians, explorers, and photographers. They come to study and capture images of this unique abandoned town.
See also
In Spanish: Gilman (Colorado) para niños
