About Silverton, Colorado:
As you might imagine, Silverton got its name from mining. In 1860, prospectors began to explore the Ute Territory of the mountains and found both gold and silver in what we now know as the “Baker’s Park” area. After the Civil War, miners returned and established Silverton as a legal town in 1874. The town attracted miners to its various mining camps for many years.
About the Christ of the Mines Shrine:
The idea of a shrine, dedicated to the miners, came up at a Catholic Men’s Club meeting on a cold Sunday afternoon in January, 1958. They hoped that such a shrine would, in some way, help the depressed economy.
In the Spring, Father Joseph Halloran, Parish Priest at that time, and a group from the Men’s Club walked the slope of Anvil Mountain. They decided the Shrine should be of such size and magnitude that anyone approaching Silverton could readily see it overlooking the town.
The alcove of the Shrine was to be of native stone. The stone came from the Old Fisher Brewery and adjoining land, and was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Ward Barlow. Work began on the alcove in 1958, and everyone interested did their share. Donations also began to come in to the Catholic Church to help pay for the statue. The statue was to be 12-16 feet tall and made of Carrara Marble from Italy.
With the alcove finished, a cutout of the statue was placed inside, to wait for the real statue. The statue arrived late in the summer of 1959. Next came the awesome task of erecting the 12-ton statue. Father Halloran recruited the county crew and their equipment and soon the statue was on its pedestal.
This shrine is easily seen from the town as it’s up on the hill with a statue of Christ looking down on his people. It is 16 feet tall, made of 12 tons of marble. Countless people hike up to each and every day.
Christ of the Mines has been dedicated twice.
The first dedication was in the early 20th century: prayers were offered for mining to return to the economically struggling region.
The second dedication took place in the 1970’s: In the winter of 1977, intensive mining was going on under the high altitude Lake Emma. Then Lake Emma breached and filled the caverns. Water pressure shot mining equipment out of the portals and into the air. The miracle, however, was that nobody died.
Lake Emma’s breach of the mine happened on a Sunday, when miners were given the day off. Had the disaster hit a day before or after, hundreds of men would have been killed by the water pressure alone.
“To many of us, the Shrine is a symbol of a miracle in Silverton. If you don’t believe in miracles, then this will just be an interesting story… During the 1950’s the mining industry in Silverton hit rock bottom: there wasn’t a working mine anywhere in the San Juan Mountains. The idea of a shrine, dedicated to the miners, came up at a Catholic Men’s Club meeting on a cold Sunday afternoon in January, 1958. They hoped that such a shrine would, in some way, help the depressed economy.
In the Spring, Father Joseph Halloran, Parish Priest at that time, and a group from the Men’s Club walked the slope of Anvil Mountain. They decided the Shrine should be of such size and magnitude that anyone approaching Silverton could readily see it overlooking the town.
The alcove of the Shrine was to be of native stone. The stone came from the Old Fisher Brewery and adjoining land, and was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Ward Barlow. Work began on the alcove in 1958, and everyone interested did their share. Donations also began to come in to the Catholic Church to help pay for the statue. The statue was to be 12-16 feet tall and made of Carrara Marble from Italy.
With the alcove finished, a cutout of the statue was placed inside, to wait for the real statue. The statue arrived late in the summer of 1959. Next came the awesome task of erecting the 12-ton statue. Father Halloran recruited the county crew and their equipment and soon the statue was on its pedestal.
Only a few months after the Shrine was completed and dedicated, a renewed mining effort was begun. The American Tunnel was started, which provided access into the lower reaches of the Sunnyside Mine. Mining in Silverton began one of its most profitable periods. A miracle?
The next addition to the Shrine were the trees behind it. The idea came from the newly transferred Catholic priest, Father Joseph McGuinnes. He ran into opposition about the ability of trees to grow on that slope, but being of strong, bull-headed Irish stock, he went ahead with his plan.
St. Patrick’s Parish proceeded to purchase 1,000 Scotch Pine seedlings and planted them in back of the shrine. For a period of four weeks, they were hand watered. To everyone’s surprise. the small seedlings began to grow. Today a mini-forest of Scotch Pines grace the back side of the Shine. Another miracle?
A near disaster occurred on June 4, 1978, in the mining industry. The high altitude lake (Lake Emma), above the Sunnyside Mine, workings broke through the mine. The water flooded through the underground workings and out the lower portal, destroying everything in its path.
But another miracle had occurred. The mine flooded on a Sunday night, when no men were working. Although the mine shut down for a while, the flood brought no loss of life.”
Silverton’s Christ of the Mines Shrine is a constant reminder of the importance of the Mining Industry and especially the miners who worked underground.
Two different bronze plaques adorn the statue. The original states: “This shrine erected in honor of Christ of the Mines by the people of Silverton to ask God’s blessing of the mining industry of the San Juans.”
The second plaque, added in 1982, commemorates the lives saved when the mines flooded in 1978. Gerald Swanson was very instrumental in having the Shrine built.
Finding the Christ of the Mines Shrine in Silverton, Colorado:
The Shrine is easily visible as it overlooks the town. Hikers often travel up to the shrine.
258 15th Street
We are not aware of any official website of the Christ of the Mines Shrine in Silverton, CO.
