Leyden, Colorado

The town of Leyden consists of a collection of square frame homes with pyramidal roofs that were originally red trimmed in white.

It was named for pioneer miner brothers Michael, Martin and John Leyden, who discovered the original Leyden mine in the hogback ridge to the west, where Michael and Martin died in 1866 and 1870, respectively.

[2] At its height, the town of Leyden included these homes as well as the company store, school, boarding house, saloon, and Presbyterian chapel.

The town housed a diverse population of native and immigrant miners, including from such countries as Austria, Hungary, Greece, Germany, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, and more.

The mine consisted of four shafts providing the access to two flat-lying coal seams from 240 to 260 m (790 to 855 ft) below the surface in the Late Cretaceous Laramie Formation.