Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

12th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest The American Experience
Crystal River Mill

This powerhouse or compression station was used in the late 1800's to power an air compressor which in turn powered machinery in the nearby silver mines. The most incredible thing about this mill is not its past history, but its recent history. It is at the near end of an incredibly bumpy and rocky dirt road and yet people flock to this scene which has been preserved in a sort of arrested decay. The man who owns much of the property surrounding the area told me that during the summer 100 vehicles a day travel to see this mill.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2014
Date Uploaded: 11.2014
Photo Location: Marble, Colorado, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS 6D
Copyright: © roxie crouch