Temple Israel of Leadville, Colorado

Leadville's architectural profile is dominated by Victorian-style homes and three-story commercial buildings, small and colorful cottages, and some tall, prominent Christian church steeples of various denominations.  The one gorgeous building in particular that caught my attention was the Temple Israel building.

This beautiful building has been through a lot since it was dedicated by Rabbi Morris Sachs of Cincinnati, Ohio on September 19, 1884:  organized by Jewish settlers of German background, welcomed more orthodox Eastern European Jewish immigrants, the more orthodox members split to form another congregation, Jewish population declined along with Leadville's as the United States discontinued the silver standard and mining activities declined, and by the Thirties the building was no longer used as a temple.

From 1937 until 1992, the Temple Israel building was converted into a single-family home/radiator repair shop, boarding for miners during World War 2, a vicarage for Saint George's Episcopal Church, and finally a three-unit (and later a four unit) apartment home.  The Temple Israel Foundation purchased the building in 1992 and restored it to its current state - a synagogue and a museum.

The steeples and façade of Temple Israel were restored when it was purchased in 1992 - the building fits into the neighborhood perfectly.

The significant and active Jewish population of Leadville found much success during the town's boom days of the 1870s through 1890s.  One was Meyer Guggenheim, a Swiss-Jewish immigrant via Philadelphia, who operated a large mining operation immediately outside the city limits.  Another was David May - his story is told on the plaque seen below:

Stone marker found in Downtown Leadville, Colorado on Harrison Street.

The steeple of Saint George's Episcopal Church, located directly across the street from the Temple Israel building.