The town of Silverton, Colorado, looks like a 19th-century movie set. More than 50 years ago, Silverton was designated as a National Historic Landmark Historic. So the entire town qualifies as a historic site while offering all the modern conveniences for visitors. As the name suggests, Silverton was founded in 1874 as a silver mining town and the boom lasted until the early 20th century when tourism became the key economic driver. In reality, there are many more than five landmarks worth seeing, but these are among the must-see attractions.

Silverton, a town of about 700 residents, unfolds in the valley below the Million Dollar Highway.

The bell tower of Silverton's City Hall was restored after a 1992 fire caused it to collapse. The structure was built in 1908 and is one of the town's must-see historic landmarks.

St. Patrick Catholic Church, framed in this photo by old houses and the San Juan Mountains, was built in 1905 with Romanesque Revival architecture and is one of the historic churches worth a look in Silverton.

The Grand Imperial Hotel, refurbished under new ownership in 2015, was built in 1883. For about a quarter-century, the building also functioned as the town and county headquarters, housing government offices, a newspaper operation, and a general store.

In the rough-and-tumble lifestyle of a mining town, jails were important fixtures. Silverton's original jail was built in 1883.

The Silverton Depot was built in 1882, accommodating the arrival of the first train from Durango. The museum is open during the Narrow Gauge train season from May through October.

The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad is one way to visit the town from early May until late October, with a two-hour layover on the round trip.

Silverton is located in southwestern Colorado, about 350 miles from Denver. Silverton has an elevation of 9,318 feet, making it one of the highest towns in the United States. The railroad season of early May through late October is obviously the primary tourist period of the year, but the opening of the Silverton Mountain Ski Area in 2002 has created more of a winter economy. For more information about the town, see the Silverton Visitors Center website.