A History of The Tincup Region

Much has been written of Colorado history, and it certainly ranks among the most colorful of any of the 50 states. But parts of that history are sometimes lost because it was not written to the level of detail necessary for the reader to understand what caused the events that shaped it. There are several books and articles available which deal generically with the mining towns of Colorado, and thankfully Tin Cup is among them. The real story of Tin Cup is as interesting and as colorful as that of any of the mining towns in Colorado. It was never very large, but it did boast a history that reflected the culture of the gold and silver mines of the area. It was a coarse little town, typical of most that were shaped by the mining industry.

But unlike The Tincup & Western Railroad and its founder Albert James Coupeau, Tin Cup really does exist. Today it is a ghost town that has been partially restored. It sits in a beautiful little alpine valley at the foot of some of Colorado's highest peaks. Some of the buildings standing in the town were originally built in the 1880's. Many are now privately owned and have been meticulously restored. Yet it retains its place in Colorado's rich mining history. The hills above Tin Cup were the homes of some of the most productive gold and silver mines anywhere in the country. If one looks carefully among the pines of the large second growth forests which surround the town, the remnants of those mines can still be seen. Please join us on a short trip back through time as we seek out the true story of "the wicked little town of Tin Cup."

As important to the state of Colorado as to the many small towns that hosted them, the gold and silver mines of the Colorado Rockies helped form the entire area. Much has been written about their contribution to the wealth of the region, but little has been written about the events surrounding their successes - or failures. Washington politics played underappreciated roles in the gold and silver mining endeavors throughout the west, roles which ultimately created as many problems and as they eliminated. Those same roles spelled an early demise for literally dozens of mining towns in the Rocky Mountain West, and helped to leave others in a constant state of confusion. Among the major decisions made by the politicos was the "Sherman Silver Purchase Act" in 1890. This act was repealed in 1893, a move which left the Colorado economy in chaos. Again, let's go back in time to briefly examine "the silver crash of 1893."

To learn still more about Colorado's rich and interesting mining and railroad history, visit "Colorado lore, legend and fact."