The
Silver Crash of 1893 brought hard times to Colorado. The dropping
silver prices caused investors to lose fortunes and put miners out of
work. A drought around the same time caused agricultural distress, and
limited food production. With growing numbers of unemployed citizens and
a food shortage, railroads even offered discounted or free one-way
tickets out of Denver for a while.
After several years of economic depression, Denver needed a boost in
morale...and the economy. In 1895, Major S. Hooper, of the Denver and
Rio Grande Railroad, posted in the Rocky Mountain News, suggesting that
Denver have its own festival, like Mardi Gras. In late August, the
Denver Chamber of Commerce met about the idea, a board and committees
were appointed, and dates were set. Originally scheduled for October
22-24, the festival actually took place on October 16-18, 1895.
All of the planning for the festival was done in just six weeks'
time. In addition to the work done by the board, which included William
Byers, Robert Speer, and Adolph Zang, multiple committees and women's
clubs took over portions of the event planning. An elite secret society,
the Slaves of the Silver Serpent, was even established exclusively for
the festival, where they would host an elaborate allegorical parade and
ball on the final day. Mardi Gras planners were brought in from New
Orleans to help, as well as costume designers and float builders.
