In the fall of 1860, miners struck silver in what is now Empire, making it the first true fissure lode discovered in Colorado.

While the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush had already brought thousands to the territory, Empire’s silver represented something different—hard rock mining that would require industrial-scale operations.

The Discovery

The miners found silver embedded in quartz veins running through the surrounding mountains, launching Colorado’s transition from gold rush to mining industry.

Tom Henderson’s driveway is steep enough that most visitors pause before attempting it. But Tom has been navigating that grade for 40 years.

‘You learn to respect it,’ Tom said. ‘The mountain doesn’t care about your schedule or your comfort. You adapt or you leave.’

Tom, 72, adapted. He arrived in Empire in 1985, fresh from a transfer with the U.S. Forest Service. He spent his career managing forest lands in Clear Creek and Summit counties.

Starting in May and running through September, select Sundays in Empire take on a different character. Theobald Park fills with vendor tents, the smell of fresh-baked goods drifts past the historic buildings on Park Avenue.

For a community of 345 people scattered across a mountain valley, the market serves a purpose beyond commerce. It’s one of the few regular gatherings where residents can catch up with neighbors.