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
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- Episcopal Church (Durango, Colo.)
- Hand colored photo of the Episcopal Church of Durango (at 910 E. 3rd Avenue, at the corner of 9th St.) which has stained glass windows.
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- Episcopal Church at Durango Colorado after Blizzard
- Black and white photo of the Episcopal Church in Durango, Colorado during winter.
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- Episcopal Church, Durango Colo.
- Sepia photo of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Durango, Colorado.
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- Famous "Moving Mountain" at Durango, Colo.
- Hand colored photograph of "Moving Mountain." An immense section of the top of the mountain has split and broken away from the main section.
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- Famous "Moving Mountain" at Durango, Colo.
- The famous "Moving Mountain" at Durango, Colorado.
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- Fiesta Parade (Durango, Colo.)
- Aerial photograph of the Fiesta Parade, on Main Street, Durango, Colorado. Sidewalks are filled with people, buildings on the right from the foreground to the left middle ground, including Stewarts, White Grocery Company, Otis Girr, Merc., and a hardware store. Smelter Mountain is in the background.
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- Fiesta Parade, Durango, Colorado.
- In the left foreground and middle ground is mainstreet Durango with the Fiesta Parade moving down the street. On the right from the foreground to the left middle ground are buildings on main street, including Stewarts, White Grocery Company, Otis Girr, Merc., and a hardware store. People line the streets. Smelter Mountain is in the background.
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- First Baptist Church (Durango, Colo.)
- Photo of First Baptist Church, two vehicles are parked on both sides of the church [writing on back] addressed to Miss Jeanne Taylor postmarked Durango Colo. Nov. 2, 1956 two cent stamp
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- First Narrow Gauge Train Run out of Durango, Colorado.
- Photograph on the day of the first narrow gauge train (draped in bunting) run out of Durango, Colorado. Crowd of people watching.
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- First Presbyterian Church Durango, Colo.
- Photo of the First Presbyterian Church, two piles of melting snow in front. Walter S. Crozier, Pastor, Durango, Colorado.
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- First School House in Southern Colorado, built in 1876 Durango, Colo.
- Photo of rough wooden cabin with a stone chimney.
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- Fish Hatchery Durango, Colo.
- Photo of fish hatchery with a body of water in the foreground. There is another house behind the pond [writing on back] addressed to Mr. Harry Kauffman of Rico Colo. postmarked Durango, Colorado. May 5, 1910 with a one cent stamp