The Tragic Tale of Baby Doe Tabor: Colorado's Silver Queen

Baby Doe Tabor's story is a classic American tale of fortune and downfall. Born Elizabeth McCourt in 1854, she moved to Colorado, marrying wealthy silver magnate Horace Tabor in 1883 after his scandalous divorce. They lived extravagantly until the silver crash of 1893 devastated their wealth.

Her life, marked by dramatic highs and tragic lows, became legendary in Colorado history, symbolizing the volatile nature of fortune during the American silver boom.

[deniseleplatt]

I live in Colorado and my college professor was related to her. She would throw rocks at people if they came to close. She really had a sad life at the end. Thanks so much Paul

[francesmeyer]

My family had a cabin in the Colorado Rockies and I grew up hearing about H.A.W. Tabor and Baby Doe. I am now 76. I learned from their story that good times don't last forever and neither do bad times. I remember hearing that her brother wouldn't speak to her because she had broken up Tabor's first marriage (like Tabor had nothing to do with it) but he was happy to go to their parties and benefit from being HAW Tabor's brother-in-law. I was about ten at the time and was outraged at this. People like that still infuriate me.
I learned a great deal hearing their story.🇺🇸

[brettd]

I grew up in Leadville. One of my first summer jobs (early 90s) was a tour guide at the Matchless Mine. I did the mine shaft and blacksmith shop tours. My mom would drop me off in the mornings. At the end of the day I'd bomb back down East 7th Street on my skateboard back to town/home. I remember, during my lunch breaks, id hike into the woods and sit on a hillside over looking the entire mine. On that same hillside i stumbled upon a Red Fox den with a mom dad and three baby foxes. I would sit and observe the foxes and watch the babies play. Those foxes got pretty comfortable with me by the end of that summer. Just a cool random memory i thought id share ✌️

[wisecoconut]

I grew up in Colorado and know Baby Doe's story well. But I love hearing you tell it! If I remember correctly, Molly Brown, the Titanic suvivor, was one of the few Denver socialites to receive Baby Doe socially.

[blythetretick]

I'm a Colorado native and have performed in the orchestra in productions, including the premiere, of The Ballad of Baby Doe by Carlisle Floyd at the Central City Opera Festival.
Thank you for this thorough and sympathetic account of Baby Doe's life.

[annabelleb.]

I think the saddest part of this story is that people couldn't seem to find any kindness in their hearts and simply neglected her, including her own daughter. Of course if she was throwing rocks at people...still she might have stopped if someone had persisted in some small way. Maybe calling out a greeting from a safe distance. Very sad.

[laurawaldie]

I just adore your story telling, Mr. Brodie. This story is so sad yet so intriguing. Baby Doe obviously loved Tabor so much that she honour his dying wish for the rest of her life. And she proved she was not a gold digger for she stayed at his side even when they lost everything. Such a sad end for Baby Doe.

[KidarWolf]

Poor Baby Doe - she didn't deserve what she experienced in her later life at all. What an admirable woman, to work hard, to persevere, to be so independent, despite all the adversity she faced, and to do so with grace. What a fascinating and enigmatic woman.

[proudamerican]

I cannot imagine facing those Leadville winters that she survived alone. That city is 2 miles high in elevation and gets FEET of snow when weather hits.

[tillyg]

We visited the one room shack she lived and died in. When we were there, the Matchless hoist to the mine was still there, but the hole was closed off. Thank you for sharing.

[brianoneil]

You make a wonderful travel guide, sir. Even if the tales are grim, you make the trip bearable.

[littlewoodimp]

I think it's fair to say that a woman who will get into the damn mine and actually dig has definitely earned her share. When good times rolled, she joyfully rolled with them. But when the bad times rolled in, she rolled up her sleeves and got stuck in. She didn't stay in a bad marriage, but when the man she loved hit hard times she stuck to him. I do feel for the children. The older girl having been grown in wealth and ease couldn't deal with such poverty as her Mother was used to from her childhood. The younger stuck to Mum and did her best. But such upset in young lives was bound to have an impact.

Sad and ignoble end for such a bold, brave and determined woman. If natural justice existed she'd have ended in a comfortable place where she could sit and tell her tales of travels, mining, of the great gifts life can hand you and how it can all vanish like fairy gold.

Sad story sensitively told as always. Nice to wake up to this bright sunny morning. Have a good day everyone!

[noellehollar]

I grew up hearing Baby Doe's story from my grandma, who was a tour guide for the state with great interest in history. Thanks for covering this one, Paul. Cheers from Colorado!

[cydkriletich]

Wow. What a great presentation on a woman I have never heard of. She had a remarkable life, and is indeed someone to be remembered.

[bretfisher]

A tale of such loneliness, as it turned out, and sad-- so sad!
Thank you for bringing it to us.

[drafter]

It's a GREAT day when we get a story from Paul. ❤

[thebooknitter]

I am glad she is known now and remembered despite the very sad end of her life. Lovely work as always Paul ❤

[ColleenD]

Sad yet brilliantly narrated story. Thank you kindly ❤

[jenniferlonnes]

The story of her kids is tragic too. They had such an advantageous start in life, yet Silver Dollar died mysteriously. He other daughter refused to be associated with the Tabor name.
The Tabor name is all over Colorado.
Thanks for covering this story. There are more such as the Griffiths sisters of Enily Griffith fame, also Anton Woode.

[yelena]

I respect her immensely, she didn’t do anything wrong and stayed true to herself, not accepting charity, stood her ground and by her man, lived how she wanted, I feel so sorry for her. She was an incredible woman 👍✌️🙏❤️