The circa 1904 -1910 Minnie Gulch Cabins site, including the cabins, dugout, and associated artifact scatters, represent a typical small residential and industrial complex associated with nearby mining during the turn of the 20th Century.  Intact groupings of this sort from the hard-rock mining period in Colorado are unusual. 

The Martin Mining Complex is associated with the mining industry in the San Juan Mountains and the Eureka Mining District.  The complex displays the development of industrialized hard rock mining and the transportation infrastructure needed to make such mining profitable in a rugged region.  The Martin Mining Complex is representative of the boom and bust cycle that was always present with industrialized mining.  The 1929 Martin Boardinghouse is one of the best-preserved and largest boardinghouses still standing in the San Juan Mountains.  More precisely, the Martin Boar

Located northwest of Silverton at an elevation of 11,400’ and closely associated with the development of the mining industry in northern San Juan County between 1877 and 1914, the Frisco-Bagley Mill and Tunnel complex epitomizes the speculative nature of early hardrock mining enterprises in the area as well as later efforts to revive the local mining industry by utilizing existing technology in new ways to increase efficiency and profits.

The narrow gauge rail line, constructed between 1880 and 1882, connected the rich silver mines of the Silverton mining district with the smelters in Durango.  The line formed an important transportation link for moving ores to processing centers and supplying the high mountain community with the necessities and comforts of life. 

The narrow gauge rail line, constructed between 1880 and 1882, connected the rich silver mines of the Silverton mining district with the smelters in Durango.  The line formed an important transportation link for moving ores to processing centers and supplying the high mountain community with the necessities and comforts of life. 

Outfit Tool Car 04351 is a boxcar originally built in 1897, reassigned as a work car in 1914 and again in 1927 to carry tools, parts, and supplies for rail crews in wrecker service along the rail line. The car is significant for engineering as a good example of a Class 6 boxcar.

Outfit Bunk Car 04432 is a converted revenue boxcar originally built in 1899 and repurposed in 1914 as living quarters for rail workers servicing railroad water facilities along the rail line, work which was critical to the steam-powered narrow gauge railroad.

Originally built in 1918 as one of ten flatcars in Class 21, Flatcar 6215 was entirely of wood. In 1937 D&RGW rebuilt the car, extending the length two feet and adding large 8” x 6” angle irons to the center and side sills and other metal bracing to strengthen it.

Built in the 1890s and rebuilt in 1943, the Flanger OT cleared snow and ice from the side of the tracks for the Railroad’s narrow gauge lines. DR&G patented “the snow flanger” in 1885, and continued to refine and improve the design, resulting in many different blade shapes, sizes and configurations over the years.

Constructed in 1928 under a special use permit within the San Juan National Forest, this two-story Rustic style log building with its unusual cross-shaped plan represents early 20th century Forest Service land use policies no longer in effect.