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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- Fishing at Electra Lake, near Durango, Colorado.
- Black and white photograph of 4 men pole fishing at Electra Lake, near Durango, Colorado.
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- Flock of Sheep and Pack Burroughs, Durango, Colo.
- Real photo view of a flock of sheep with several pack burros crossing a road near Durango.
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- Flood 10-11
- Flood 10-11. House engulfed by Animas River. Two trees surrounded by water.
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- Flood 10-11
- Flood 10-11 in Durango, Colorado. It appears that the smelter is surrounded by water.
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- Flood 10-11. Railroad Bridge North of 3rd Avenue, Durango, Colo. 1911
- Railroad bridge North of 3rd Avenue, Durango, Colorado, during the flood of October, 1911.
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- Flood Water, Animas River Durango, Colo.
- Photo of Animas River overflowing its banks in the 1911 flood. Mesas are visible in the background.
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- Flood of 1910. Part of Railroad at end of 3rd Ave. North end stands.
- Flood of 1910 showing part of railroad at the end of 3rd Avenue submerged in water, and the north end of bridge still standing.
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- Flood of 1911 Durango, Colo.
- Distant view of river in flood with bridge over it on the left a man standing next to a container filled with water in the foreground.
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- Florida River, Source of Water Supply in Durango, Colo.
- A natural view, apparently photographed by someone standing in the little river. Trees are growing on both banks; there are no signs of human habitation.
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- Four Postcard Panorama of Durango, circa 1910
- Hand tinted photograph in four standard sized postcard sections (separated at some time previous to entering into database into two two-postcard sections) of a Panorama of Durango, ca. 1810
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- From Durango, Colo. The Land of the Ute and Navajo Indians
- On the picture side of this card are a color view of a Navajo woman by her loom, and a message from G. E. Nelson to Miss Ellen Strand in Jamestown, N.Y. that "I am shipping you today a Swastika 'Good Luck' Indian blanket. It is well packed, and I hope it will reach you in good order. All forwarding charges are prepaid." Postmarked November 1907 in Durango with a 1 cent stamp.
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- From Durango, Colorado
- "Durango" written in large block letters, photos of Indians arranged in the lettering [writing on back] addressed to Miss May Lougenboug of Cortez, Colorado, postmarked Sep. 12, 1908 Mancos, Colorado. Upside-down one cent stamp. Copyright notice 1906.