Lulu City, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lulu City Site
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 Location in Colorado
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Grand Lake, Colorado |
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| Area | 160 acres (0.65 km2) |
| Built | 1879 |
| MPS | Rocky Mountain National Park MRA (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001562 |
| Added to NRHP | September 14, 1977 |
Lulu City was once a busy mining town hidden deep in the mountains of Colorado. It was a place where people hoped to find silver and get rich! Today, it's a ghost town located inside Rocky Mountain National Park. Only a few old cabin ruins remind us of the miners who lived there long ago.
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The Story of Lulu City
Lulu City started in 1879. A prospector named Joe Shipler found silver in the area. Soon, people got excited about finding riches. A company called the Middle Park and Grand River Land Improvement Company decided to build a town there. They were supported by Benjamin F. Burnett and William Baker. The town was even named after Burnett's daughter, Lulu.
Life in a Mining Town
By 1881, Lulu City was growing. There were about forty cabins where miners and their families lived. The town also had several businesses. Imagine what life was like back then! People worked hard, hoping to strike it rich. They probably had general stores, saloons, and other shops to serve the miners.
Why Lulu City Disappeared
Sadly, Lulu City didn't last long. Miners soon realized that the silver they found wasn't very good quality. It was "low-grade" ore, meaning it didn't have much silver in it. Also, getting the silver out of the mountains was very expensive. It cost a lot to transport supplies to the town and to ship the ore out.
Because of these problems, people started to leave Lulu City. By 1885, most of the town was empty. Only Joe Shipler, the man who first found the silver, stayed behind. He lived there for another thirty years, long after everyone else had gone.
A Neighboring Settlement
Not far from Lulu City, another small settlement appeared. It was called Dutchtown. This place was built by some people who had left Lulu City. It was located in the Never Summer Mountains, to the west of Lulu City.
Lulu City Today
In 1949, the National Park Service bought the land where Lulu City once stood. Today, it is part of Rocky Mountain National Park. If you visit, you can still see the remains of three cabins. You might also spot other old structures that are slowly being reclaimed by nature.
On September 14, 1977, the Lulu City site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site that needs to be protected. It helps us remember the history of mining in Colorado and the brave people who tried to make a life in the rugged mountains.
