Leadville, Colorado Wall Art

Photographs of The Two Mile High City

Sitting at 10,151 ft above sea level, Leadville is one of Colorado’s more unique towns, and that’s saying a lot for a state with such incredible mountain culture. Not a big place but it’s still racked up a number of nicknames over the years: The Two Mile High City, Oro City, Cloud City, and Slab Town. That alone provides a great hint into Leadville’s rich mining history that began in 1859 during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush, and that hunt for gold, silver, and lead continued for 130 years. Visiting the small town today, you can still feel what Leadville once was, and that’s a lot of the draw. Only 2 hours from Denver, but it feels a world away, with unprecendented views of the surrounding mountains and no crowds. The architecture is gorgeous and well preserved in a lot of cases like the Delaware Hotel which first opened in 1886. Of course the local jewel is the Silver Dollar Saloon. You’d be hard pressed to find another like it anywhere in the country. Inside you can feel the years (established 1879), and that feeling only gets better once you learn more about it’s history with noted regulars like Doc Holiday! The most surprising part of Leadville is the fact that it has delicious food! I’d recommend checking out The Silver Llama Market and Eatery for breakfast and Treeline Kitchen for dinner. They are conveniently located right next to each other and Treeline has a great rooftop patio that’s open in the warmer months. Mineral 1886 also has good food for lunch and dinner.

Historic Buildings and Local Flavor

Walking through the neighborhoods is always fun because you’ll get a feel for daily life, and Leadville has some colorful houses that are intricately shingled. If you are looking for more of a workout, the Mineral Belt Trail (12 miles) can provide year round recreation with top notch views of the mountains and will take you up close to some of the old mining claims. Walking, running, and biking in the summer. Fat biking and cross country skiing in the winter. There is a nordic center just outside of Tennessee Pass and endless access to backcountry skiing/snowboarding from all routes in/out of town. And If there’s any reason this little hideaway would sound familiar, that’s because it’s home to one of the hardest mountain bike races in the country - The Leadville 100! That and Melanzana, which is supposedly on a year waitlist for hooded sweatshirts. Perhaps the most redeeming quality about their main drag though, is you won’t see a single chain restaurant or business. They are all locally owned and there is no mistaking that fact! Leadville is a gem of a place that you hope will retain it’s small town charm for decades to come. If you’re looking for a fun getaway with resort crowds, check out Leadville for a couple nights.

Get Your Leadville Print

If you’d like to have a little piece of Leadville to remember your trip and brighten your walls with Colorado culture, contact me directly about photography prints and custom framing options for your home, office, or commercials space. These photographs are also available for editorial and commercial licensing.

Contact Rob

Photography print of downtown Leadville, Colorado — Leadville, Colorado Wall Art

Photograph of the Golden Burro Cafe in Leadville, Colorado — The Golden Burro Cafe - Leadville

Photography print of the Silver Dollar Saloon in Leadville, Colorado — Black and white photograph of the Silver Dollar Saloon in Leadville, CO

Black and white photograph of the bar inside the Silver Dollar Saloon in Leadville, Colorado — Photograph of the bar inside the Silver Dollar Saloon

Photograph of High Mountain Pies Pizzeria in Leadville, Colorado — High Mountain Pies - Leadville, CO

Photograph of an American Flag hanging in the window of a house with colorful shingles and a ski fence in Leadville, CO — Colorful house in Leadville, CO

Photo print of the Silver Dollar Saloon in Leadville, CO — Leadville Saloon

Photograph of bar stools and the old tile floor in the Silver Dollar Saloon in Leadville, CO — Tile floor in the Leadville Saloon

Photograph of the interior of the saloon in Leadville, CO — Pool table and taxidermy inside the Silver Dollar Saloon - Leadville, CO

Hand painted beer sign on an old brick building in Leadville, CO — Beer - Leadville, CO

Photographing the Isolation and Beauty of the Llano Estacado

There’s a special kind of silence out on the Llano Estacado. It’s not the peaceful quiet of a mountain meadow or the lull of a forest trail. It’s something heavier - lonelier. The Llano has a weight to it. It can make you feel like you're the last person on earth, or maybe like you were never supposed to be there in the first place.

And that’s exactly what makes it worth photographing.

Most people pass right through this part of Texas and never give it a second thought. But for those willing to look, there’s an odd kind of beauty in the way the land stretches forever without interruption. It’s flat, dry, dusty, and brutally honest. And that honesty is what I try to show in every frame.

Why These Llano Estacado Images Are Ideal for Licensing

These photographs weren’t made to romanticize the West. They’re meant to show it like it is - unfiltered, unpolished, and raw. That’s what makes them a good fit for editorial licensing, design projects, and brands that care about authenticity. There’s no overdone drama here, just straight-forward photographs from one of the most misunderstood parts of the American landscape.

If you're looking for images that speak to isolation, endurance, forgotten history, or the stark poetry of the land, these photos might be what you need. They're available for licensing or as fine art prints.

Interested in Licensing or Buying a Print?

Whether you're an editor, designer, brand, or art collector, these Llano Estacado photographs are available for licensing or purchase as signed prints. Licensing options are flexible, just reach out with the image you’re interested in and the intended use.

Use the contact form HERE or email directly to get started - rob@robhammerphotography.com

“It’s a long way, round the Llano Estacado” - Colter Wall