February 1878

The city of Leadville is incorporated.

November 9, 1879

B’nai B’rith establishes Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 322 in Leadville and celebrates with a banquet at the Windsor Hotel.

January 1880

The Hebrew Benevolent Association establishes the Hebrew Cemetery in the southwest corner of Leadville’s Evergreen Cemetery.

January 24, 1884

The Reform Congregation Temple Israel is founded.

February 23, 1884

The congregation hosts a Purim Masque Ball to raise funds for the construction of a synagogue.

July 13, 1884

Horace Tabor donates land for the construction of a synagogue to David May as trustee for the Congregation Temple Israel.

August 11 - September 19, 1884

Workers set the synagogue’s cornerstone on August 11 and complete construction in 33 days for $4000. Rabbi Moris Sachs dedicates the Temple Israel Synagogue at 7:30 PM on September 19 with Rosh Hashanah.

Drawing of the Reform Temple Israel building from 1884.

Temple Israel building, circa 1894.

June 3, 1904

Temple Israel hosts a funeral for Jacob Heimberger, one of the largest such services to be held at the Temple Israel Synagogue.

November 1, 1912

The funeral service for Ausios Meye Zeiler is one of the last recorded services to be held at the Temple Israel Synagogue.

August 23, 1937

Steve Malin purchases the Temple Israel building, converting it into a radiator repair shop and a residence for his family.

1941 - 1945

The Temple Israel building serves as a dormitory for miners during World War II.

July 25, 1955

The Malin family sells the Temple Israel building to the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and adds additional living space.

1970s - 1990s

The Temple Israel building serves as a multifamily dwelling and an additional apartment is added, bringing the total number of units to four.

Temple Israel building, circa 1929.

Temple Israel building, circa 1964.

October 15, 1992

The Temple Israel Foundation acquires the building with the intent of restoring the structure to its original configuration.

October 2001

The Temple Israel Foundation completes the restoration of the building’s front façade.

May 4, 2006

An electrical fire causes extensive damage to the building. Work to fully restore the structure commences.

December 2008

The Temple Israel Foundation completes the full restoration of the building.

June 2012

The Temple Israel Synagogue and Museum opens to the public.

Temple Israel building before front restoration efforts began.

Front façade restored in 2001.

September 25, 1888

In the first of a series of schism meetings, a yet unnamed Orthodox congregation, led by Zundel Greenwald, gathers separately from Temple Israel’s Reform congregation for Rosh Hashanah services at Leadville City Hall.
[This is a public gathering space, not the seat of city government, which was separate building.]

November 3, 1892

The Orthodox congregation, now known as Knesseth Israel, purchases a Presbyterian church at 119 West 5th Street for $1050.

1911 - 1937

Knesseth Israel, the Orthodox congregation, falls into obscurity by 1922, hosting only biannual events. After 1922, the Knesseth Israel building is likely only used for personal worship. The structure is sold and demolished in 1937.

The building which the Orthodox Knesseth Israel purchased in 1892.