Lasting Historical Sites
Original visitors to the Gunnison basin included its namesake, Capt. John Gunnison, an army surveyor looking for a possible railway route in 1853. Thirty years later hard-rock mining and cattle ranching were starting to become viable businesses in the basin—ranching being the more productive. Gunnison City was the supply center for the surrounding area and the neighboring Los Pinos Indian Agency.
The earliest buildings were western “false-front” and late Victorian structures. The first structures housed your typical boom-town businesses of dance halls, saloons, hotels, restaurants, general-hardware merchants, and a brothel. Gunnison’s first houses were homes built by the area’s earliest builders, ranchers, and settlers. Many of these buildings are current restored family homes and part of Gunnison’s historical sites.
Gunnison was fortunate to have a master stonemason, Frederick Zugelder, who completed many stone and brick buildings. The Gunnison Arts Center now resides in what was and still is “one of the neatest looking buildings in the city.” Since its completion in 1882 this stone building has housed a U.S. land office, railway agency, a hotel, hardware store, ski shop, clothing store, and restaurant.
First section of the present County Courthouse was originally built in the 1880’s.
Other sites on this historical map were built in the early 1900’s and represent more modern architectural styles. Gunnison’s historical churches were built during this period.
Gunnison’s main “historical district” is its central main street business district. Other buildings built in the late 1900’s were built up on Boulevard Street, Gunnison’s second main street during the 1900’s. These lasting historical reminders can be observed on a walking tour.
