Walsh-Zanett Room

In contrast to the Museum's rural ranch and tack rooms, you now find yourself in a re-creation of an upper-class parlor during the Victorian era. What would you do if you became suddenly rich, very rich? Thomas Walsh was born an Irish peasant, came to the United States at age 19, owned and operated a hotel in Leadville and then made a huge fortune in the mine fields in and around Ouray County. He was the owner of the Camp Bird Mine, a great producer of gold and silver ore. He was a generous man. Among his many good deeds, he paid off the mortgage on the hospital building when the hospital was in serious financial trouble. He also provided his family with every advantage money could buy. Evalyn Walsh McLean, Thomas Walsh's daughter. even owned the supposedly cursed Hope Diamond, a replica of which you can see in this room. Was it the curse that caused her hardships? Read her autobiography, Father Struck it Rich, which can be purchased in the Museum Bookstore. The fireplace mantle is the from the Moystyn home on 4th Street, later the Franz home (now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Dave Wood). Before you leave, note the bullet hole in the wood of the piano to the right of center below the keyboard. The piano came from the Gold Belt Theatre. You will learn more about the Gold Belt later in this tour.