Join the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum for a three-day guided tour through Central City and Leadville, exploring the real people and places behind The Ballad of Baby Doe whose dramatic story of love, betrayal and money inspired this iconic American opera, based on real life. This special experience is built around the rare staging of the opera—performed at Central City Opera only once every ten years—making this an exceptional opportunity for history and opera lovers alike.

Travel through Colorado’s mining history as you learn about the  lives of Horace Tabor, Augusta Tabor, and Elizabeth “Baby” Doe Tabor, whose dramatic story of love, betrayal and money inspired this iconic American opera. (based on real life)

The Ballad of Baby Doe is a classic American opera written and performed in English,  commissioned by Central City Opera that was first performed in 1956. Set in 19th-century Colorado, it tells the real-life rags-to-riches love story of silver magnate Horace Tabor, his wife Augusta, and the young Elizabeth “Baby” Doe Tabor. The emotionally rich work explores love, ambition, scandal, and loyalty, capturing universal human truths through accessible music and timeless themes. Beloved by audiences worldwide, the opera remains a highlight of Central City Opera’s repertoire. Central City Opera Info

Tour Guides: 

Duane Vandenbusche

Kathryn Keller

Schedule:

Guests are responsible for their own transportation between all locations 

Day 1 – Wednesday, July 15th-Central City

      • 1pm – Free Pre-Performance Talks- 45 minutes prior to every 2026   main stage performance, in the Williams Stables Theatre (across the street from the Opera House)

      • 2pm – 5pm – Baby Doe Opera

      • Check In at Monarch Hotel Blackhawk

      • Dinner on your own – suggested Central City or Monarch Hotel Blackhawk

    Accommodations: Monarch Hotel Blackhawk

    Included Meals: none

    Day 2- Thursday, July 16th

        • Voucher for breakfast available at Twenty Four-7 Restaurant at the Monarch Hotel Blackhawk

        • 10am – Private Tour of the Teller House and Face on the Barroom Floor

        • Lunch on your own at Blackhawk, Central City, Idaho Springs, Leadville

        • Make your way to Leadville on your own time, approximate travel time in 2 hours, optional road to take is “Oh My God Road”

        • 4pm- Check in at Delaware Hotel

        • 6pm-Group Dinner

      Accommodations: Delaware Hotel

      Included Meals: Breakfast at Monarch and Dinner in Leadville (included for Museum Members)

      Day 3 – Friday, July 17th

          • Voucher Breakfast at the Delaware Hotel

          • Check out of Delaware Hotel

          • 10am Tour of the Tabor Opera House-90 minutes tour

          • Lunch

          • 1pm Tour of Matchless Mine

          • Day ends by 4pm

          • Optional: Self Guided or Private Group Tour: Mining History Museum

        Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

         

        IMPORTANT TICKET INFORMATION:

        May 20th, 2026 ticket pricing will go up

        June 3rd Registration Closes

        Tabor History Tour Tickets

        • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
        • *We will not use your phone number for anything other than contacting you about this trip
        • $0.00
          You will receive an invoice for your remaining balance after we process your registration. Remaining balance is due before May 31, 2024.
        • If yes, please explain
          In consideration of myself OR my child participating in Crested Butte Museum programming, lessons, tours, and activities, and/or other activities (“Activities”) offered by The Crested Butte Museum: I represent that I OR my child understand the nature of the Activities and that I and my child are qualified, in good health and in proper physical condition to participate in such Activities. I acknowledge on behalf of myself OR my child that if I OR my child believe event/Activities conditions are unsafe, we will immediately discontinue the Activity. It is fully understood that the Activities involve inherent risks and dangers of serious bodily injury, including permanent disability, paralysis and/or death, which may be caused by my OR my child’s own actions or inactions, those of others participating in the Activities, the conditions in which the Activities take place, or the negligence of the Releasees named below, and that there may be other risks not known to me OR my child, or not readily foreseeable at this time; and I OR my child fully accept and assume all such risks and all responsibility for losses, costs, and damages I OR my child might incur as a result of my OR my child’s participation in the Activities. I hereby agree for myself and for my child to release, discharge, indemnify and covenant not to sue The Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, and its respective administrators, directors, agents, officers, volunteers and employees, any sponsors, advertisers, and if applicable, owners and lessors of the premises on which the Activities take place (each considered one of the “Releasees” herein), and release and discharge them from liability, claims, demands, losses, or damages on my account caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the Releasees or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations; and I further agree that if, despite this release, waiver of liability, and assumption of risk, that I, or anyone on my behalf OR on behalf of my child, makes a claim against any of the Releasees I will indemnify, save and hold harmless each of the Releasees from any loss, liability, damage or cost which may incur as the result of such a claim. I have read this RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, and understand that I have given up substantial rights by signing it, and have signed it freely and without any inducement or assurance of any nature, and intend it to be a complete and unconditional release of all liability to the greatest extent allowed by law, and agree that if any portion of this agreement/release agreement is held to be invalid the balance, notwithstanding, shall continue in full force and effect.

        331 Elk Avenue
        Crested Butte, CO 81224
        At the corner of 4th and Elk
        in Downtown Crested Butte
        Mailing Address:
        PO Box 2480
        Crested Butte, CO 81224

        THANK YOU

        This site is dedicated to the staff of the Crested Butte Museum and to the memory of Ferdinand and Leola Yaklich, 88 year residents of Crested Butte. Ferd and Leola spent 59 amazing years together, raising their family under the watchful eye of these beautiful mountains. They were here as horses on Elk Avenue turned to men on the moon and a small, unknown coal town turned into a world reknowned ski town. Ferd & Leola were a driving force in building the Crested Butte community and bridged the history of those of 19th century Crested Butte and those of 21st century Crested Butte.

        Dedicated by their Children & Grandchildren:
        Trudy Yaklich, Fritz Yaklich, Mari Yaklich Ettlinger, Cindi Yaklich, Zeb Yaklich, Zach Yaklich, Ian Yaklich & Collin Harrison

        define( 'TEC_TC_STRIPE_SIGNING_SECRET', 'whsec_cJsWrWdCh4S9xWixwRPk9UA5Wk6hS2Xc' );