An 1873 silver-mining camp at 11,200 feet on the Alpine Loop above Silverton, with about a dozen BLM-stabilized structures including the famous Duncan (bay-window) house. Managed as a public heritage site and free to walk through, but access is seasonal only — the county road requires high clearance and is snowbound roughly October through late May. Main risks are altitude, fast-changing weather, and jeep traffic, not the buildings.
Vestige documents abandoned & historic places for education and preservation. Always obtain permission before visiting and follow local law.