Smuggler Mine: The Silver Giant of Historic Aspen

On the slopes of Smuggler Mountain lies Smuggler Mine historic Aspen, the landmark that put the town on the map. Claimed in 1879, this mine powered Aspen’s silver boom, producing nearly 20% of the world’s silver by the late 1880s. Today, it remains one of the few operational silver mines in the United States—an enduring chapter of Aspen’s heritage.

 

Property Snapshot

• Name: Smuggler Mine historic Aspen

• Location: Smuggler Mountain Road, Aspen, CO 81611

• Developer/Claimants: Edward Fuller & Con Allbright (1879)

• Historic Designation: National Register of Historic Places (#87002118)

• Current Use: Limited mining, heritage tours, event site

• Year Claimed: 1879 (major development in 1880s)

• Style/Type: Industrial Mining 

• Zoning: Heritage/Mining

• Site Area: 9.7 acres 

 

Did You Know?

Smuggler Mine historic Aspen produced nearly one-fifth of the world’s silver at its peak and is home to the largest silver nugget ever discovered, weighing 2,340 pounds in 1894. Its underground tunnels stretch for more than 1,000 feet beneath Aspen.

 

Why It Matters

Smuggler Mine historic Aspen is not just a relic—it’s a living connection to the Silver Boom era, when fortunes were made and lost in the Rockies. Its survival after the 1893 silver crash makes it a rare symbol of resilience. For real estate and heritage, Smuggler Mine stands as both a nationally significant industrial landmark and a potential investment with tourism, cultural, and historic appeal.

 

History Through the Decades

• 1879: Claim staked by Edward Fuller & Con Allbright. (Legend says one traded his half for a mule.)

• 1887–1893: Smuggler Mine historic Aspen produces 20% of global silver output; fuels Aspen’s rise to international prominence.

• 1893: Survives the Sherman Silver Act repeal that shuttered most mines.

• 1894: Records the largest silver nugget discovery in history.

• 1900s–1950s: Periodic operation, but Aspen enters its “quiet years.”

• 1984–1999: Declared an EPA Superfund site due to toxic tailings; cleanup becomes a national model.

• Today: Functions as a working mine and heritage tour site, connecting Aspen’s past with its tourism-driven present.

 

Architectural Features

• Tailings Piles: Two massive, historic ore dumps define the mine’s landscape.

• Clark Tunnel & Smuggler Shaft Entrances: Still accessible, though partially flooded.

• Ore Cars & Tracks: Preserved 19th-century mining equipment, including seven ore cars.

• Historic Structures: Wood-and-metal outbuildings, reconstructed using salvaged materials from Aspen’s mining era.

 

Explore Smuggler Mine’s Silver Legacy

Curious about owning, visiting, or investing in Smuggler Mine historic Aspen? Smuggler remains a rare opportunity to step inside the living heart of Aspen’s mining history. Across town, Ute Cemetery, offers a quieter counterpart, where miners, pioneers, and veterans are laid to rest—together, these sites trace Aspen’s journey from boomtown to modern resort.

 

Sources:

• National Register of Historic Places – Smuggler Mine Nomination (1987)
• History Colorado Archives
• EPA Superfund Site Profile – Smuggler Mountain, Aspen, CO
• Aspen City – Smuggler Superfund Site Information
• Pitkin County – Smuggler Mountain Superfund Site Management

• Federal Register (1999)

• GovInfo.gov – Federal Register Document PDF
• Photo: Smuggler Mine, Aspen, Colorado, circa 1900” by Harry H. Buckwalter (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.