• HAT MAKER STEAMBOAT HATTER 111 11th st. Downtown Steamboat Springs Colorado. Handmade Hats. Hatband Bar. Vintage Western Wear. Antiques. Workshop & showroom open Wed-Sun.

    Click here to design your own hat

Steamboat Hatter..

Steamboat Hatter, One of a kind custom handmade hats.

Please contact us with any questions about designing your own hat. We can work with you to design almost anything you can think of!

Originating in the small but vivacious western community of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Coming from an artistic background in metalworking and Stained Glass, Kay developed an interest in exploring the world of hat making. Sam Daniels, a man with a knack for building things and an excitement for the history behind these crafts was also intrigued by the idea and so began Steamboat Hatter. With a unique and funky style, Steamboat Hatter aims to create fun and stylish custom hats for all ranges of characters.

Our Small Town

Our workshop is located in Steamboat Springs Colorado. A ranching community turned world renowned ski resort and outdoor recreation wonderland.

 Origins of our town

The Yampa Valley was the summer hunting grounds of the Ute tribe for hundreds of years. The Yampatika Ute and Arapaho tribes also visited the area for its mineral or “medicine” springs considered sacred places of physical and spiritual healing.

The name of Steamboat Springs is thought to have originated around the early 1800s when French trappers thought they heard the chugging sound of a steamboat’s steam engine. The sound turned out to be a natural mineral spring, to be named the Steamboat Spring.

Early History

In 1874, James Crawford ventured into the Yampa Valley seeking a homestead site. Impressed by the region’s mineral waters, he built a cabin near present day Iron Spring and a log shelter over the nearby hot springs. Crawford spent a few of his winters in Boulder, Colorado where he persuaded several prominent businessmen to join him in organizing the Steamboat Springs Townsite Company in 1884.

By 1885, five other families had settled in the area including a newspaperman, James Hoyle, who brought his printing press and publication of the Steamboat Pilot began that same year. The area began to develop slowly, but increased slightly when a sawmill was established in 1883.

Becoming a Town

In 1900, the town was incorporated with James Crawford as the first mayor. By 1902, the town had 3 hotels, 3 livery stables, 3 banks, 4 general stores, 2 meat markets, and other businesses including the Steamboat Springs Service Company. This company was the community’s first electric utility company.

Railroad

In 1909, the railroad arrived, which sparked a boom for the commercial industry in Steamboat Springs. Ranching was the primary industry of the valley and the cattle ranchers turned the new railroad depot into one of the largest cattle shipping centers of the West.

Numerous passengers began arriving on the railroad to visit the scenic area and the natural mineral springs. In the early 1910s, Norwegian Carl Howelsen arrived and brought ski jumping to the area and established skiing as a sport. Tourists now also began to visit the area for skiing and a few avid skiers began to look for broader areas of terrain.

Recreational Destination

In the 1960s, Storm Mountain was developed as a resort ski mountain led by James Temple. The mountain was later named Mt. Werner in memory of local skier and Olympian Buddy Werner.

Still celebrating its western heritage and deep rooted ranching traditions, Steamboat Springs thrives as a world-class skiing, biking, and year-round recreational destination.

The Little Moon Travelers Live At Steamboat Hatter