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Town Timeline

Eugene Buchanan
Taken in 1916, this photo from the Tread of Pioneers Museum archives shows a snapshot of Steamboat's skiing history.
Courtesy Photo

1776: Spanish explorers Francisco Atanasio Dominguez and Silvestre Velez de Escalante explore area, camping 65 miles southwest of Steamboat

1820s: Steamboat Springs name originates when three French Trappers, traveling along Yampa River, hear a “chug chug” sound for area hot springs

1839: Thomas Jefferson Farnham expedition passes through area



1843-1845: John C. Fremont expeditions travel through current-day Routt County

1855: Sir George Gore forges wagon road over Gore Pass; ventures near Steamboat Springs



1862: Gold discovered at Hahn’s Peak

1866: First settlement established at Hahn’s Peak

1875 Region’s first permanent settler, James Crawford, brings his family to the area, living among the Ute Indians; Builds first “bath house” at hot spring

1879: Last Native American uprising in U.S. history occurs at White River Indian Agency, spawning two-year-long confrontation

1881: Northwestern Colorado Utes relocated to Utah reservation; Ute leader reportedly places a curse on Yampa Valley, saying those who come will never be able to leave

1884: Crawford organizes Steamboat Springs Townsite Company

1885: James Hoyle brings printing press to town; Steamboat Pilot begins publication (has appeared weekly ever since)

1890s: Legendary cowboys and outlaws pass through town, including Butch Cassidy, Kit Carson and Jeff Bridger

1900: Town of Steamboat Springs officially incorporates

1908: Namesake springs cease to “chug” when railroad bed gets built

1909: First passenger train arrives to replace stage lines

1909: Official rodeo grounds built (in earlier days, spectators formed a circle)

1912: Strawberries marketed throughout country from Strawberry Park

1913: Town ships more cattle than anywhere else in U.S.

1913: Perry Mansfield Camp founded in Strawberry Park; now oldest performing arts center in the nation

1913: Norwegian and Barnum and Bailey Circus star Carl Howelsen (the “Flying Norseman”) arrives in town and introduces ski jumping; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club founded

1914: Winter Carnival founded

1915: Howelsen Hill opens (oldest continuously running ski area in Colorado)

1932: Steamboat Springs sends first skier to the Olympics

1947: Associated Press calls Steamboat Springs “Ski Town USA.”

1958: Storm Mountain ski area founder James Temple gets permission to use phrase “Champagne Powder,” coined by Kremmling rancher Joe McElroy

1961: First Poma lift opens at Storm Mountain Ski Area

1963: Steamboat Ski Area officially founded

1964: Ski area renamed Mount Werner after death of local Olympic skier Buddy Werner

1970: Billy Kidd, first U.S. men’s skier to win an Olympic medal in skiing, moves to town

1992: Local Nelson Carmichael wins Olympic bronze in moguls

2010: Local Nordic combined skiers Johnny Spillane, Todd Lodwick and Billy DeMong bring home six Olympic medals from Vancouver Games

2014: 14 athletes with ties to Steamboat compete in Sochi Games, bringing town’s total to more than 89 Olympians making 151 Olympic appearances


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