Victor is a gold mining town in Colorado. Partially depopulated, located at an altitude of almost 10,000 feet on the southwest shoulder of Pikes Peak, it is part of a National Historic District. Known as the “City of Mines,” Victor was at its most populated in the late 1800s, when a great deal of gold ore passed through the district, and the population reached 18,000 (today it has 397 residents).

One tourist-oriented website puts it this way:

We are  a unique setting of 1890’s mine structures and turn-of-the-century brick buildings, unique shops and restaurants, as well as hiking trails, museums, and gold mining experiences. We have clean, cool mountain air and plenty of year-round sunshine. What we do not have – stoplights, chain stores, traffic, or anything resembling the rat race!

On a cool autumn afternoon, on my way to Colorado Springs, I passed through Victor with my camera. I found the place intriguing. Most of the brick buildings date from 1899, when they were rebuilt following a devastating fire. There’s a definite nostalgic “cat house” aesthetic, with the locations of prominent brothels sign-posted (also check out the billboard in the background of the photo of the old tow truck at the top of this story). As opposed to the nearby town of Cripple Creek (bottom photo), there is no apparent move to base the town economy on gambling.

I wish I had more time to spend photographing Victor, and hope I get to visit this very interesting area again.