Telluride in San Miguel County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

San Miguel Valley Bank Robbery

June 24th 1889

— Telluride, Colorado —

San Miguel Valley Bank Robbery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Frank Gunshow Sanchez, June 9, 2018

1. San Miguel Valley Bank Robbery Marker

Inscription. Newspapers in 1889 reported this robbery to be the most brazen and daring bank robbery in the history of Colorado. It was the first robbery by two legends of the wild west. Matt Warner ( Willard Erastus Christiansen) would later pay his debt to society. He was pardoned in 1900, changed his ways and became a respected lawman. Butch Cassidy (Robert Leroy Parker) would become the Robin Hood of the west and leader of the famed Wild Bunch. He fled to South America with Harry Longabaugh in 1905 and his fate is forever shrouded with mystery.

This robbery marks the point where these late 19th century cowboys crossed the line between being cowmen and rustlers and became some of the most wanted outlaws of their time. Both men took this route down the valley numerous times to get to southeastern Utah where Matt Warner was from, but after the robbery they headed over Lizard Head pass to hold up on Mancos Mountain and eventually made their way to the Robber's Roost area in eastern Utah.

Matt Warner and Butch Cassidy are now the namesakes of chapters of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, dedicated to the preservation

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of western history and protectors of widders and orphans.

Erected 2018 by Matt Warner Chapter 1900 and Robert Leroy Parker Chapter 1889 E Clampus Vitus in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 9, 2018.

Location. 37° 56.924′ N, 107° 52.9′ W. Marker is in Telluride, Colorado, in San Miguel County. It is on State Highway 145, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Telluride CO 81435, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Western Slope.

It is also in the American Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the

Photographed by Matthew J Ebert, June 11, 2022

2. San Miguel Valley Bank Robbery Marker

crow flies: A different marker also named San Miguel Valley Bank Robbery (here, next to this marker); Hear that Lonesome Whistle Blow (here, next to this marker); Flushing Out the Gold (here, next to this marker); Tomboy Mine Office (approx. 3.8 miles away); Telluride (approx. 3.8 miles away); Colorado Centennial Project (approx. 3.8 miles away); Courthouse (approx. 3.8 miles away); Telluride's Founding (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Telluride.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 28, 2018, by Frank Gunshow Sanchez of Hollister, California. This page has been viewed 4,230 times since then and 192 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 28, 2018, by Frank Gunshow Sanchez of Hollister, California. 2. submitted on June 11, 2022, by Matthew J Ebert of Gerlach, NV. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.