Volume 1: Early Durango
These postcards depict the early days of Durango, Colorado. According to The City of Durango, the town was created by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company in September 1880 as a location for smelters to work the silver and gold being mined nearby. Durango’s more moderate climate at an elevation of 6,512 feet above sea level, a steady water supply from the Animas River, and the availability of coal made it a good choice. The city was named after Durango, Mexico, supposedly because the territorial governor at the time thought the geography was similar. (source)
Pages
-
- Durango, Colo. as it was in 1880
- Black and white photograph of Durango, Colorado in 1880, looking toward Smelter, Mountain.
-
- Durango, Colo. by Moonlight
- Black and white aerial photo of the town of Durango, CO at night with snow-covered Smelter Mountain in the background
-
- Durango, Colo., Animas Valley
- Animas Valley, Durango, Colorado.
-
- Durango, Colo., Main Avenue
- View of main street from south to north.
-
- Durango, Colorado
- A parade on Main Street in Durango
-
- Durango, Colorado
- Hand colored aerial view photograph of Durango, Colorado at sunset from the heights west of town, the site of Fort Lewis College. Durango is the southern terminus of the narrow-gauge railroad traveling 53 miles to Silverton.
-
- Durango, Colorado
- Black and white aerial photograph of Durango. Notes an altitude of 6,529 feet and population of 6,634 people.
-
- Durango, Colorado - Elevation 6505 ft.
- Durango, Colorado - Elevation 6505 ft., b/w real photo postcard, showing the layout of the streets and roads through the city.
-
- Durango, Colorado - Park School, Whittier School, Durango High School
- View of three Durango Schools: Park, Whittier, and Durango High School.
-
- Durango-Silverton Rrailroad Bridge in the Narrow Gauge Capital Durango, Colo.
- Black and white photograph of the Durango - Silverton railroad bridge, with a person standing in the middle of the bridge.
-
- Durango-Silverton-Ouray Highway
- Sepia photo looking up the cliffs at the Durango-Silverton-Ouray Highway, the Animas River winding through the canyon.
-
- Early Durango street scene
- Real photo view of a number of Native Americans seated on a board sidewalk, flanked by a number of standing Anglo persons (2 men, 2 women and a young boy). A portion of a sign on a building in the back left is visible and reads: Durango.