Historical Attractions in Crested Butte, Colorado
Located 120 miles southwest of Denver in Colorado’s Gunnison County and nestled amid a lush and scenic mountain valley, is the city of Crested Butte. Crested Butte is a popular destination for enthusiasts of both summer outdoor activities (fishing, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting), and winter outdoor activities. (cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding.) Formerly noted for coal and silver mining, the town thrived from the 1880s until the early 1950s when the region’s biggest and most productive mine (Big Mine) was closed. Thus began the transition from mining to tourism in the early 1960s with the opening of the area’s first public skiing slopes on Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
The town’s gritty, hardscrabble origins and proud past have been well-preserved, with dozens of historical structures, many of them well over 100 years old, co-existing comfortably alongside the more modern segments of the town. These surviving landmarks of a by-gone but fascinating era have become popular attractions among sightseers, scholars, historians and students of the 19th-century American West.
Some of Crested Butte’s more popular historical landmarks include: 
•The Old Post Office: Built in 1900, this iconic structure has served various purposes, including furniture store, mortuary, post office, dance hall and roller skating rink.
•Jacob’s House: Built in 1887 and notable for its unique and attractive Victorian architecture.
•The Railroad Depot: From 1881-1952 this building provided an indispensable service, hauling coal and delivering supplies.
•Old Rock Schoolhouse: The town’s first permanent school, it was built in 1883.
•The Princess Theatre: Originally the site of the Colorado Supply Store until destroyed by fire, it was transformed into a franchisee of the Western U.S. Princess Theatre chain in 1918, entertaining the locals with silent films. The original structure’s stone walls remain.
The Crested Butte community and surrounding area is also noted for their many annual celebrations and festivals which have become increasingly more popular going into the 21st century. In winter months, thousands of visitors flock to the Torchlight and Winter Carnival which feature a wide variety of winter-related activities for all ages. In the spring, a younger crowd is drawn to Crested Butte’s Extreme Board Fest. In the busy summer months, the town plays host to Bike Week, a Music Festival, an International Film Festival, and as is befitting Colorado’s Wildflower Capital, the annual Wildflower Festival. The fall months in Crested Butte are highlighted by the yearly Fall Fest and the Paragon People’s Fair.
If you are planning a visit to the beautiful city of Crested Butte and want to be close to all of these historical attractions, events, and more than consider staying in a vacation rental from Alpine Getaways. They offer luxury condo and home rentals that feature scenic views of the mountains and more.
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