Telluride was founded in 1878, and boasts a history as colorful as the numerous Victorian homes that line its city streets. It was originally named Columbia, although the town was forced to change its name in 1887 because of post office confusion with a California mining camp with the same name. Soon after the name change, Telluride began to earn its own place on the map as a budding mining town.

It is commonly noted that the town is named after tellurium, a nonmetallic element associated with rich mineral deposits of gold and silver. Another reference originates from the castaway call "To-Hell-You-Ride" shouted by many loved ones that knew of the town's boisterousness. Regardless of how the name came to be, many people were attracted to the new town that was full of promise and opportunity.

Telluride sits nestled in a box canyon surrounded by majestic, 13,000-foot peaks of the San Juan Mountains. Being only six blocks wide and twelve blocks long, Telluride's National Historic District is a window into the past and offers a showcase of spirited individualism and community pride. For many, young and old, it has become a delight to explore the Victorian homes, boutiques, art galleries, bookstores, as well as gourmet restaurants, historic buildings and much more.

Best known for its world-class ski resort, Telluride boasts the large sum of 1,700 acres of terrain, two air gardens and terrain parks, one complete with a super-pipe. Other popular winter activities include Nordic skiing, dog sledding, snowboarding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, ice climbing, heli-skiing, snowbiking, ice skating, sledding and more. Telluride also offers year-round paragliding, fly fishing, shopping, fine dining, bird watching, sight-seeing, riding the free gondola and attending day spas and theater.