Leadville

Leadville, Colo, saw a drop in tourism in July because of the nearby Willow Fire. But August could still bring a score of visitors.

During World War II, the U.S. Army built a unique training ground in the mountains near Leadville. Thousands of soldiers trained for combat in extreme alpine conditions – and helped secure key victories in the war. As Colorado marks its 150th birthday this year, a museum exhibit explores the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division.

Following a warm, dry winter, Colorado is now in wildfire season. Multiple major blazes across the state are prompting evacuations, road closures and filling the air with smoke.

Childcare for infants in Colorado can be tough to find – in fact, in some rural communities like Leadville, there are zero licensed childcare slots for infants. Today on In The NoCo: What’s behind the shortage, and how some communities are trying to fix the problem.

Events range from traditional parades to specialty food and drinks from local establishments across Northern Colorado.

Colorado celebrates its 150th birthday later this year – and throughout 2026, the KUNC newsroom will feature fascinating stories from the state's history. We kick things off this week on In The NoCo with the story of a massive ice palace in Leadville. It drew tourists from around the world in the late 1800s.

In the late 1800s, silver mining made Leadville a wealthy city. But after the silver market crashed, city leaders faced economic hardship. So they decided to try an unusual idea to draw tourists to Leadville: They built a massive palace made out of ice. We’ll hear the story of the historic Leadville Ice Palace today on In The NoCo.

Piles of mine waste that loom above the historic Colorado mountain town of Leadville are a reminder of the city’s boom days. Now a company wants to “remine” some of the waste piles to squeeze more gold out of them.

Financial pitfalls at the nation’s highest-elevation hospital serve as a cautionary tale as rural hospitals emerge from the pandemic on shaky ground.

Sundown towns once drove out people of color or prohibited them from living within city limits. This practice started in the late 19th century, but the impact continues today. In Colorado, Chinese immigrants flocked to the state to find gold. They were tolerated in some mining camps and run out of others.