Leadville in Lake County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Crib
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025
1. Crib Marker
The women who lived in and used buildings such as this during the mining years were hard working survivalists who used the opportunities available to them.
This view into history is an intent to show the hard life found in mining communities and the tenacity of such residents. It is not a judgement nor an effort to honor their lifestyle. It is rather a recognition of the human survival instinct and the abilities of all to find a way.
We believe this to be the last remaining crib in Leadville.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Women.
Location. 39° 15.087′ N, 106° 17.538′ W. Marker is in Leadville, Colorado, in Lake County. It is at the intersection of East 9th Street (U.S. 24) and Harrison Avenue, on the right when traveling west on East 9th Street. The marker and cabin are on the Leadville Heritage Museum grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 102 East 9th Street, Leadville CO 80461, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley, in the Colorado High Rockies and on the Continental Divide. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shaker Concentrating Table (here, next to this marker); Gravity Stamp Mill (here, next to this marker); Headframe (a few steps from this marker); Side-Dumping Ore Car
this page online
Also see . . . Sporting Women and Houses of Ill-Repute Prostitution and Vice in the Wild West.
Excerpt: It is incredibly hard to find the last traces of prostitution in the Wild West. In Denver prostitution was made illegal in 1913. Despite being against the law, prostitution did not disappear but was driven underground. In the mining towns, prostitution lingered on longer and was tolerated in varying degrees. But as the years progressed and sensibilities changed (perhaps), the parlor house buildings were converted into other purposes. In fact, the cribs were probably the first to face the bulldozers in the name of eradication of vice. Some buildings became boarding houses, others restaurants, saloons and even a Japanese Buddhist temple.(Submitted on December 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 20252. Crib & MarkerThe marker is mounted beside the front window. Violet is inscribed on the plaque over the door presumably the residents professional moniker.
As for the sporting women themselves, their identities and lives are difficult to trace. Often they used fake names (and changed them often) to hide their identities for a variety of reasons such as clean starts or to hide their true identities. Often prostitutes did not want word of their profession getting back to the families back east. A sense of shame surrounded their profession.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 51 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 15, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
