Elk Mountains and surrounding area visited by explorers, trappers, and prospectors. Ute indians visited their hunting grounds in area.

"Close to a million dollars in gold" removed by hard rock prospectors in area. Twelve miners killed by Ute, causing many prospectors to flee.

A sawmill and smelter built by Howard F. Smith, considered the "Father of Crested Butte." Crested Butte established as a supply town for surrounding silver camps. Coke from coal produced "in a small pit using pine wood as fuel."

Town formally incorporated and Crested Butte's "Age of Coal" begins. Approximately 400 people living in Crested Butte and 1,000 miners in surrounding area. Town includes 50 businesses, dwellings, tents, three sawmills and a hotel, the Forest Queen.

Long, hand-hewn skis with one pole for balance used as simple winter transportation and sport.

First narrow-gauge train, Denver & Rio Grande arrives in Crested Butte. First telephone installed.

Community church built. In the following year it will become Union Congregational Church

Rock School building and City Hall constructed. City Hall serves as a place of worship for Catholics during construction of St. Patrick's and a dance hall on Saturday nights. Jokerville mine opens.

One of the most gaseous mines in the area, the Jokerville mine explodes, kills sixty miners in the largest mine disaster to date in Colorado history. Mine will never reopen.

Major sections of Crested butte's business district are destroyed by fire, partly due to frozen water lines.

Many Slavic, mostly Slovenian and Croatian, and Italian immigrants arrived and slowly formed the bulwark of the town with their culture, traditions, and languages. Before 1895 population mostly Anglo-Saxon.

First major miners' strike occurred due to, among other things, a cut in wages from 75 cents to 65 cents per ton.

First fraternal lodge society of St. Joseph established. Second major fire burns several buildings in Crested Butte's business district.

Big Mine on Gibson's ridge opened by Colorado Fuel & Iron Company. Construction on St. Patrick's church finished.

Third major fire destroys sections of downtown.

Destructive fire hits Big Mine.

Another big fire at Big Mine.

Big Mine and Floresta Mine forced to close due to extended miners' strike backed by United Mine Workers of American. Strike results in severe economic hardship and animosity among residents.

Big Mine re-opened with few short-term concessions won by miners. Long term benefits and working conditions gained by miners due to strikes.

Coke production ended and coke ovens closed due to introduction of natural gas.

Miners strike again due to serious wage cut with 400 men out of work. Horace Mine, Bulkley Mine, and Big Mine closed. Strike caused by Wobblies and not sanctioned by UMW.

Miners vote to return to work, winning few of their demands.

Crested Butte Bank fails.

High levels of coal production maintained by Colorado Fuel & Iron and the Big Mine.

Big Mine permanently closes. Great hardship ensues and many residents leave Crested Butte. School populations drastically depleted.

Keystone Mine re-opened by American Smelting and Refining Company with base metal production (lead, zinc, copper). It soon becomes the main source of economic stability.

Summer Law-Science Academy established by Dr. Huber W. Smith. First significant numbers of summer tourism.

Crested Butte Junior and Senior High School Closes. Students bused to Gunnison.

Keystone Mine Closes

First Flauschink Festival held to celebrate the end of ski season.

Mt. Crested Butte incorporated as a town

Crested Butte designated as a National Historic District

Crested Butte town government run by "old-timers" replaced and Home Rule adopted by newcomers. Zoning laws, land use, and taxation transformed.

Exploratory drilling for molybdenum. Controversy in Crested Butte between "old timers" who support AMAX and environmentalists, who disputed with AMAX. Grassroots interest group, High Country Citizens Alliance formed to oppose AMAX.

Crested Butte streets paved.

AMAX forced to leave due to collapse in world molybdenum market.

Grand Butte Hotel completed at Mt. Crested Butte

Center for the Arts built in Crested Butte. Town experiences expansion in real estate and recreation.

Gas explosion in Crested Butte State Bank kills three people.

New K-12 school opened ending 30 years of busing for high school students. Town Hall moves into old brick school.

The Crested Butte Mt. Heritage Museum, with the help of private donations, grants, and local government funding, purchases the Crested Butte Hardware and Auto Supply for it's new home.

Crested Butte Mt. Heritage Museum opens in its new location.