A rare artifact from 1892 has joined the Ridgway Railroad Museum, thanks to a donation from Susette Warynick of Ouray.

The silver, filigree pass bears the signature of Otto Mears himself and is believed to be one of less than 600 of its kind. Mears, known as the “pathfinder of the San Juans” is famous for building the Million Dollar highway and several railroads, including the Rio Grande Southern Railroad from Durango to Ridgway.

Mears had the passes made by a Santa Fe silversmith, S. ...