The Tabor Opera House tells Leadville's silver-boom story in one building

One building on Leadville’s main street holds much of the town’s boom-era story: the Tabor Opera House. It was built in 1879 by Horace Tabor, who made a fortune in silver and poured some of it into grand buildings here. An opera house in a rough mining town says a lot about how fast money arrived.

The Tabor name runs through Leadville’s history, and this building is one of the easiest places to see it. The opera house hosted touring performers in the silver years and still stands as part of the historic core. It is recognized as a contributing part of the Leadville Historic District, a national landmark designation that honors the town’s mining-era streetscape.

For a newcomer, the opera house is a good way to feel the scale of the boom in person rather than on a plaque. It also helps explain why so much of downtown looks the way it does.

Tours and events depend on the current operator and the season, so check before you plan a visit. For the building’s history and its place in the landmark district, start with History Colorado’s pages on the Tabor Opera House and the Leadville Historic District.