CREEDE – The Creede and Mineral County Underground Community Center was packed wall to wall with booths for the annual Creede Rock and Mineral Show this past weekend.
People from all over the country perused the many booths seeking out treasures and learned new and wonderful things about all the different rocks and minerals on display.
Rockhounds of all ages were there to enjoy three full days of homemade crafts, jewelry, handcrafted rock, mineral displays, and much more. One local Valley resident has been coming to the show for over 30 years and had this to say, “We come up every year and every year there is always something new to find or something great to learn from some of the vendors. These people are adventurers, and they have some amazing stories to tell.”
From sourcing material above 12,000 feet to finding a rare mineral or gem in a desert plain, rockhounds seek their treasure anywhere. This combined with unmatched artistic talent, the vendors that grace the halls of the community center are unique in their own way.
The evening program for this year’s event featured local geologist Rhonda Foale who spoke about the geology of Creede, specifically the ancient volcanos that formed the area and the rock and minerals that can be found there. Creede is best known for its silver and the famous Sowbelly Agate, comprised of amethyst and other minerals unique to the area.
Creede is the result of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in earth’s history according to geological studies done by several experts. The La Garita Caldera was formed around the Creede area that happened an estimated between 40 and 18 million years ago.
Silver was discovered in Creede 135 years ago in 1889 and with the discovery, the story of the town was born. Like many communities throughout Colorado, Creede was one that depended solely on the precious metal it was pulling out of the mountains surrounding the area and when the boom ended abruptly in the mid-1980s the town turned to tourism to support its continued growth and survival.
One story out of the past came from one man who ventured to the Creede area seeking fame and fortune. Ralph Granger In 1889, Granger headed out looking for his wealth stating that this was the last time he would go out to try and find gold or silver.
It was announced in the Jan. 5, 1889, San Juan Prospector that Granger and his partner had purchased and opened a grocery store and butcher shop along the main street of Del Norte, but it was his adventures in the spring of that year that would change the course of history for many and create the mine that has become a tourist hot spot today.
According to the newspaper of 1889, Granger sold his half of the business to his partner and began the rigorous process of searching for gold and striking it rich. During this time, Del Norte was booming, and the gold was coming from Summitville by the bucket loads. Everyone was seeking a piece of the rich ore that was just waiting to be found, and Granger was one that wanted a piece of that pie.
He looked for two years and after coming to the very last of his resources and funding, his family in near shambles, Granger struck it rich. He named the mine for exactly what it was, his last chance and to this day, the mine continues to produce treasures untold. For new owner Jack Morris, the Last Chance Mine has turned into a once in a lifetime opportunity and he is happy to share it with the public every day.
This is just one tale of many that surround the long history of Creede and only one of many that is shared among rockhounds that get their blood roaring to seek those treasures on their own.
For more information or a full schedule of coming events in Creede, visit www.creede.com.
