Arts and Culture | Gondola | Historic Buildings | The Two Towns
 Arts and Culture
The arts and humanities thrive in Telluride and Mountain Village - all year round! Telluride is known as a summer festival mecca, but winter offers some of the most intimate and entertaining opportunities of the year. Sign up for a class, take in a lecture, or listen to a choir that is as far reaching as the setting that inspires local creativity.
Ah Haa School for the Arts
A focal point for innovative arts and artists, the Ah Haa School holds classes in painting, drawing, ceramics, fabric, the book arts, photography, basketry, writing, printmaking and dance. Ceramics and bookbinding studios are available. Ah Haa is located in the historic Silver Bell building on the corner of Spruce and Pacific. 135 S. Spruce, Box 1590 (970)728-3886
Dance in Telluride
Dance in Telluride has been a dance presence in Telluride since 1997. They've sponsored the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago's summer residency, the Telluride Dance Academy and various dance performances.
Sheridan Arts Foundation
Dedicated to bringing performance arts to Telluride, the SAF encourages development of young playwrights and performing artists. The Sheridan Opera House is home to the SAF's productions, including the Holiday Show, Wild West Fest, and live theater and music throughout the year. 110 N. Oak, Box 2680 (970)728-6363
Telluride Council for the Arts & Humanities
TCAH is a grassroots, community-based arts organization dedicated to keeping the arts strong, healthy and growing in Telluride. Programs include education programs, individual artist grants, the "Homegrown Series" showcasing local artists' original works and the annual Celebration Arts Street Fair. 100 W. Colorado, Suite 228 Box 152 (970)728-3930
The Telluride Repertory Theatre
The Telluride Repertory Theatre Company was founded in 1990 to provide professional-quality theater from original, classical and contemporary works, encouraging all ages to participate in the creation and enjoyment of the theatrical experience. Repertoire includes a spring musical, summer Classics in the Park and Bitter Blues (education for teens). Box 2469 (970)728-4539
Commission on the Arts and Special Events (CASE)
CASE, a Town of Telluride board, was created to facilitate support for arts and special events, evaluate grant requests, recommend levels of funding to Town Council, administer allocations and encourage an environment conducive to festivals, performing arts, visual arts and special events in Telluride. Box 397, Parks and Recreation Dept. (970)728-2173
KOTO
Radio Free-form radio with local deejays playing a variety of music from American jazz to bluegrass, rock Ôn' roll to world music. Fundraising eventsÑLip-Sync Contest, Rubber Duck Race, Black Bean SautÚ and Night at the OperaÑare local favorites. Tune in to FM 91.7 or 89.3. 207 N. Pine, Box 1069 (970)728-4334
Telluride Artisan's Guild (TAG)
The Telluride Artisan's Guild provides a support system for artisans in San Miguel County. TAG members display their crafts to the public several times a year, including Film Festival and pre-Christmas. Contact TAG for a sourcebook of regional artisans. Box 627, Ophir, 81426 (970)728-6525
Telluride Chamber Orchestra
The chamber orchestra provides opportunities for local and regional musicians, both amateur and professional, to work together and perform for the Telluride community. The spring, summer and fall performances are often musicales that feature various styles and instrumental groupings. Box 1641 (970)728-1463
Telluride Choral Society
The Telluride Choral Society supports the Children's Chorus of Telluride, the Telluride Chorale, the Telluride Chamber Singers and other vocal music through performances and ongoing music education. WinterSing concerts are in December, SpringSings are in April, and SundaySings are held in February and March. Box 3642 (970)728-1463
 Telluride's Gondola
Gondola closes for fall and spring off-seasons. Open 275 days/year, 7:00 a.m-11:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday 7:00 a.m-12:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Riding Time Stats
Leg 1 = 6.2 minutes Station Telluride to Station St. Sophia
Leg 2 = 4.7 minutes Station St. Sophia to Station Mountain
Village Leg 3 = 1.2 minutes Station Mountain Village to Station Village Parking
Passengers may ride in the same gondola cabin between Station Telluride and Station Mountain Village, however, passengers must disembark to ride between Station Mountain Village and Station Village Parking. A lift ticket or season pass is required to disembark at Station St. Sophia and access the mountain during the ski season.
Environment Matters
The gondola virtually eliminates noise and air pollution, congested parking lots, and the need for people to drive their vehicles between the two towns. It simultaneously provides clean, smooth, quiet, free and visually spectacular transportation. The gondola towers are low profile, usually not exceeding tree line, lessening the visual impact typical of gondolas while also dramatically reducing the likelihood of shut down due to high winds.
Convenience
With a total of 32 eight-passenger gondola cabins on the three lines (26 on legs 1 & 2 and six on leg 3), guests can step into a gondola cabin almost every minute. Commuting this way takes far less time than riding the old intratown bus system. The hourly capacity of the gondola is 600% greater than the bus system. (The total hourly capacity of the gondola is 480 people per hour between towns in both directions while the total hourly capacity of the bus is 80 pph in both directions.) The gondola can handle up to 1200 pph if consistent demand in the future warrants more cabins being added.
The Most Beautiful Commute in America
The gondola provides transportation between towns for people commuting to work, going to the grocery store or meeting friends, easing the burden of traffic between the towns. Beginner skiers and snowboarders can reach beginner terrain without the hassle of a car or bus. Parents can transport their kids to Children's Ski School in the morning. Local kids can ride it to and from school. All of this eliminates the need for vehicles between the two towns during the gondola's operating hours, thereby reducing air pollution and noise, and providing a much safer mode of winter transport.
Telluride Historic Structures
Due to its important contributions to early mining, Telluride has been set aside as a National Historic Landmark District since 1964. To protect the town's Victorian and mining character, Telluride established HARC (Historic and Architectural Review Commission). Any new building or remodel plans must be reviewed and approved by HARC before construction begins. The buildings on this self-guided tour have withstood the passage of time, although many have been restored.
For a more in-depth tour, Ashley Boling of Historic Tours of Telluride can tell you the tales of the town with great aplomb. Make tour reservations by calling 728-9746.
1. San Miguel County Courthouse
In 1885 a courthouse building was erected kittycorner to the post office on West Colorado Avenue. This building burned shortly after construction, but the bricks were saved and used to build the present courthouse two years later on the corner of Colorado Avenue and Oak Street. It is still used today.
2. New Sheridan Hotel & Opera House
This famous Telluride landmark was built in 1895. For fine dining, the Continental Room had 16 velvet-curtained booths, each equipped with phones so diners could call for service and not be frequently interrupted by waiters. The Sheridan Bar remains much the same with its cherrywood bar imported from Austria. William Jennings Bryan delivered his famous "Cross of Gold" speech on a platform in front of the Sheridan. The Opera House, an exquisite theater with a Venetian scene painted on its roll curtain by J. Erickson, was added in 1914. Today the opera house, hotel and restaurant are still welcoming guests.
3. Roma Bar
One of Telluride's oldest bars contains its finest period pieceÑan 1860 Brunswick-Balke-Collener Company bar of carved walnut, with exquisite and valuable 12-foot French mirrors on the back bar. The Roma was one of the wildest and most raucous saloons in town. It was renovated in 1983.
4. St. Patrick's Catholic Church
This church was built in the neighborhood of Catholic Hill in 1896 at a cost of $4,800 and by 1899 had 200 members. The wooden figures of the Stations of the Cross were carved in the Tyrol of Austria. In 1996 the church celebrated its centennial.
5. Old Waggoner House
Charles Waggoner, president of the Bank of Telluride (yellow brick building with pillars on main street), contrived an amazing scheme to save his bank and pay off depositors in the Crash of 1929. Most Telluride depositors were eventually paid and the New York banks were the losers. Waggoner testified in court, "I would rather see the New York banks lose money than the people of Telluride, most of whom have worked all their lives for the savings that were deposited in my bank." Waggoner was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was paroled after three years. He never returned to Telluride. Later tenants included the Goldsworthy family from 1932-1988. George Goldsworthy, born in Rico, Colorado, moved to Telluride at age 6. He grew up to be an astute businessman and operated the City Bakery and the City Grocery in the present Telluride Trappings and Toggery building. George and his wife, Bessie, raised 10 children in this house.
6. Town Hall
On the corner of Fir Street and Columbia Avenue is Telluride's first schoolhouse. This one-room building was built in 1883 for the sum of $3,000. The first class held there had 53 students and one teacher. After a new school had been built, the town offices occupied the building. The tower for drying fire hoses was added at that time.
7. Telluride Historical Museum
An amazing collection of photographs and artifacts reconstruct the colorful days of Telluride's mining past. The building itself was built in 1895 by Dr. Hall and served as a hospital for the miners, townspeople and county poor. Recently renovated, it is now open to the public.
8. North Oak House
Built in 1900, this house was a survivor of the 1914 flood. A spring cloudburst caused the usually gentle Cornet Creek to turn into a torrent of mud and rocks that swept through town, depositing five feet of mud and debris from the Liberty Bell Mine right down to Colorado Avenue. One woman was killed and the Sheridan Bar was filled with mud halfway to the ceiling. This house has been completely restored to its original condition, enabling it to be on the National Register of Historic Homes.
9. Davis House
This stately brick house was built by E. L. Davis in 1894. Davis was a mining and real estate entrepreneur, owner of the Mayflower, Nellie and Etta gold mines in the Ingram-Bridal Veil Basin and Bear Creek area. He owned all the land where the Rio Grande Southern Train Depot now stands, as well as one-third interest in "West Telluride." Davis sought to bring business to the town as Vice-President of the Telluride Board of Trade. After Davis' death, the house was sold to Dr. Oshner, who used it as a hospital, particularly during the 1918 flu epidemic. The house was renovated in 1983.
10. L.L. Nunn House
On the corner of Aspen Street and West Columbia is L.L. Nunn's house, built in 1887 and extensively remodeled in 1980. The white Victorian next door was bought by Nunn for use as his Telluride Institute, where "pinheads" from Cornell University came to expand their knowledge of the production of power. Today Cornell University has a "Telluride House" funded by Nunn's estate.
11. Rio Grande Southern
Railway Depot This area was a bustling, noisy, and exciting part of town after the railroad reached Telluride in 1891. The depot was surrounded by boardinghouses and warehouses, some of which are still standing on San Juan Avenue. In 1991, the depot was renovated and is now a restaurant.
12. Finn Town
Heading east, stroll past Finn Town. On the south side of the street is Finn Town Flats, originally a boardinghouse, Finn Hall (grey), and the smaller Swede-Finn Hall (pictured), now a bar and restaurant, on the corner. The two halls were the center of social life. During parties and get-togethers, each family brought food, the band played and the people danced and socialized. Continuing east, detour up South Oak Street past the Dahl House, a miner's roominghouse built in the 1890s, now Fat Alley BBQ.
13. Popcorn Alley
Back on Pacific Street, The Senate, the Silver Bell, the Cribs and the madam's stone residence in the back make up the restored buildings of the "sporting district." The Senate was one of the many "female boarding houses" that was bustling with business between the 1880s and 1930s. The old Senate closed in 1935. The Silver Bell, built in 1890, suffered a disastrous fire in 1923. It operated as one of Telluride's many "soda parlours" during Prohibition and its numerous outside entrances hint at the other services offered. It closed in 1959 and was faithfully restored in 1991 as the Ah Haa School for the Arts. The three simple Victorian houses standing in a row on Pacific Street, known as the Cribs, are all that remain of the similar structures that lined both sides of the street all the way to the edge of Town Park. The Telluride Housing Authority saved these last houses by renovating them in 1983.
14. The Pekkarine Building
This is one of Telluride's oldest main street buildings. Mr. Pekkarine immigrated to the United States from Finland, opened a boot shop in the basement of this brick building, and on the second floor he later operated a mercantile store. The Pekkarines lived on the third floor. At the settling of the Pekkarine estate in 1974, valued turn-of-the-century artifacts were donated to the Telluride Historical Museum. Today, local shops occupy the street level of this building.
The Two Towns
Two towns in one, Telluride and Mountain Village combine the best of Colorado... quaint history, progressive culture, exciting recreation, breathtaking scenery, fine dining, funky tradition, the luxury resort experience, hip entertainment... all within a (free!) 12-minute gondola ride of each other.
A National Historic Landmark District with Victorian-era architecture, Telluride is nestled in a box canyon at the base of the Telluride Ski Mountain (8,750'), surrounded by 13,000' peaks. The picturesque San Miguel River and river trail wind through town joining Town Park with the historic train depot. The town is less than one mile long so all accommodations are just a short walk to Main Street shops and restaurants or to the two ski lifts and the year-round gondola accessing the mountain. Rental shops and ticket offices are available at both ski lift bases. The Valley floor and Town Park are popular with cross-country skiers. Town Park has an ice skating rink and sledding hill.
European-style Mountain Village is at 9,450' and overlooks some of the most magnificent peaks in the San Juans. The center of skiing operations and the children's ski school, the 92-acre Village core offers ski in/ski out accommodations, lift ticket windows, equipment rentals, restaurants and shops as well as easy access to some of the region's most spectacular cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails. Also a world-class summer resort, the Village boasts an 18-hole championship golf course and 3,000 acres of National Forest for hiking and biking.
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