Historic theater & museum

Tabor Opera House

About 0.4 mi from the depot

An 1879 theater, museum, preservation project, and performance venue whose guided tours connect Leadville's silver wealth with its cultural ambitions.

The place

About Tabor Opera House

Horace Tabor built the Tabor Opera House in 1879 to bring touring entertainment and civic culture to a remote silver-boom city. The building's story parallels the Leadville Railroad's mining narrative: mineral wealth created both the freight traffic that sustained the Highline and the fortunes that funded elaborate downtown architecture.

Current guided tours normally include the museum, auditorium, stage, dressing rooms, Tabor Suites, and refreshed second-story museum. Original red-velvet Andrews chairs remain in the performance hall, and the interpretation recalls appearances by figures including Oscar Wilde, John Philip Sousa, and Harry Houdini. Historic stage scenery survives but is protected, so a tour does not imply unrestricted handling or access to every object.

The building remains an active venue and rehabilitation project. Public tours generally run Thursday–Sunday from late May through September, with separate month-by-month 2026 booking links. Performances, construction, maintenance, and access needs can change the route. The south-side accessible entrance reaches the auditorium and part of the tour; the Harrison Avenue gift shop and first-floor storefront are accessible, while upper floors are not.

What stands out

The 1879 auditorium

The performance hall preserves period character, original red-velvet chairs, and the stage used by nationally known touring performers.

Behind-the-scenes tour route

Tours can move from museum rooms into the auditorium, stage, dressing rooms, Tabor Suites, and second-story displays.

A living preservation project

The Tabor remains active for tours and performances while rehabilitation work continues around historic fabric and stage scenery.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a Leadville Railroad trip

The railroad explains how mining and transportation shaped Leadville; the opera house shows what boom-era wealth built downtown. It is the closest of the three promoted local guides, but its timed seasonal tour should still be booked around the train departure.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • Public tour seasonNormally late May through the end of September, Thursday–Sunday, with several times and month-specific 2026 booking links.
  • Private toursLimited appointments are listed at $40 per person or $100 per group of four; children 10 and under are free.
  • AccessibilityA south-side accessible entrance reaches the auditorium and part of the tour. The gift shop and first-floor storefront are accessible; upper floors are not.
  • Route caveatPerformances, construction, maintenance, and guest access needs can change which rooms are included.
  • ChildrenChildren are welcome, but parts of the building are museum spaces and require close supervision.
  • Best timingBook the railroad first, then choose a tour with enough margin for train check-in, the 2.5-hour ride, and downtown walking or parking.

Another boom-era interior

Add Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin

Compare a public entertainment landmark with furnished domestic life in two interpreted 1870s buildings nearby.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

When do Tabor Opera House public tours run?

The current visitor page says late May through the end of September, Thursday–Sunday, with several times. Use the month-specific 2026 booking links for exact availability.

Is the whole Tabor Opera House wheelchair accessible?

No. The auditorium, part of the tour, gift shop, and first-floor storefront have accessible routes, but the upper floors do not.

What does a guided tour include?

The published route can include the museum, theater, stage, dressing rooms, Tabor Suites, and second-story museum, but events, maintenance, construction, and access needs may alter it.

Are children welcome?

Yes. The venue welcomes children and asks adults to supervise them closely in museum areas. Children 10 and under are currently free on private tours.

Why pair the opera house with the Leadville Railroad?

Both are direct products of Leadville's mining era: the railroad moved freight and people, while mineral wealth funded the city's cultural landmarks.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-14. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.