"All Killed by Snowslide, Jan. 26, 1886" So reads the epitaph of William Harford, M. J. Mitchell, D. Overstree and Joseph Preest. Immigrants from Tyrol, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Scotland, Ireland and England among others came to the United States and eventually to Telluride where work, particularly in the mines, was prevalent. However, the harsh environment, lack of advanced healthcare and mining accidents prevented many from ever returning home.

Join the Telluride Historical Museum for a tour of the Lone Tree Cemetery with Historian Andrea Benda on Saturday, August 19 at 4 p.m. and learn more about the disasters, dramas, heroes and horrors of Telluride's past using the headstones of miners, muleskinners, ranchers, merchants, children, doctors and even soiled doves as your guides. The tour leaves from the museum at 3:45 p.m. for the short walk to the cemetery where Benda will share some of the remarkable pieces of Telluride history that can be gleaned from a walk through the Lone Tree Cemetery.

Investigate the most prominent causes of death. Hear little-known stories of Telluride drama, intrigue and disaster. Explore the ethnicity of our founding fathers and the fraternal affiliations, which played vital roles in caring for the widows and widowers left behind. Telluride residents and visitors alike are sure to gain a new appreciation of the courageous few who settled in the isolated, dangerous valley that would eventually become Telluride, and those who stayed on to create the rough and tumble community that would survive diversity, disasters and depression only to be born again as the irresistible ski town we know and love today.

All are invited to join Benda for this one-of-a-kind tour. The cost of the tour is $8 for museum members and $10 for non-members. This and other quality programming is made possible through the support of the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village, the Telluride Foundation and the museum's many members and supporters.

For more information or reservations, call the Telluride Historical Museum at 728-3344 or visit www.telluridemuseum.org.