Timeline of mining in Colorado


Colorado mining history is a chronology of precious metal mining, fuel extraction, building material quarrying, and rare earth mining.
The Uravan Mineral Belt is on the west side of the state, and the Colorado Mineral Belt is a large area of the state that had gold/silver booms. Outside of the UMB & COMB, the Denver Basin produced small amounts of gold, and the Cripple Creek district had a different gold boom.

Mining events

Mining organizations

DateLocationOrganization
1992CreedeThe mining portion of the Creede Underground Mining Museum was completed.
1970Colorado SpringsThe Museum of the West was incorporated and was renamed the 1972 Western Museum of Mining & Industry.
1949Lulu CityThe National Park Service purchased the Lulu City, Colorado mining settlement, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
1891PuebloPueblo's Mineral Palace was completed with "a ceiling formed of 28 domes specimens of all the minerals produced in the State."
1882DenverNational Mining Exposition opened in Denver.
1876DenverThe Colorado Mining Association formed.
1870Golden CityTerritorial School of Mines construction began in 1870 by George Maxwell Randall, an Episcopal Bishop. It was sold in 1874 to the Territory of Colorado and is now the Colorado School of Mines.