W. Cross, circa 1890; U.S.G.S.
ROSITA’S HANDSOMEST HOUSE LIVED ON
In the 1890 photo the ornate two-story house (seen below) stood at the righthand end of the main street, facing this way. In 1960 the house next was gone except for some lumber on the ground; the third house still stood. The mansion bore a sign Post Office which was tacked up in 1957 during the filming of Saddle the Wind, a movie that starred Robert Taylor and used Rosita for atmosphere. Both are now gone.
D.K.P., 1960
L. C. McClure, 1900-1909; D.P.L.
SILVER CLIFF CHOSE A MAGNIFICENT BACKDROP
Silver Cliff boomed in 1879 to such an extent that it rivaled Leadville for a decade. For a short period it was the third largest town in Colorado and it has never been a true ghost town, although much fallen from its former opulence. What has never changed is the view from the silver cliff, facing the town, across the Wet Mountain Valley to the spectacular reddish Sangre de Cristo Range (Blood of Christ in Spanish).
D.K.P., 1960