Constructed in 1900, the city hall was built as a miniature replica of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3]Thomas Walsh, founder of the Camp Bird Mine, donated a library which occupied the second floor. The structure burned down in January 1950. It was listed on the Register in 1975.[1] A restoration effort in 1976 as part of the city of Ouray Centennial failed, but another restoration effort led by then-mayor Bill Fries (C.W. McCall) succeeded in restoring the historic facade in 1988.