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
-
- Horses in the Durango, Colorado Area.
- A blue tinted photograph of horses and people walking along a rocky path. On the bottom is a description of the photo, but it is very hard to read. The photo is dated September 19th, 1906. In Durango, Colorado. It is postmarked in Duluth, Minn.
-
- Horticulture Display, Colorado/ New Mexico Fair at Durango, Colo.
- Photo of vegetables and fruit on display in a wooden building; the card appears to be hand colored over a b/w photo
-
- Hospital at Durango Colo.
- A photograph of the hospital in Durango, Colorado.
-
- Hospital, Durango, Colo.
- Mercy Hospital, Durango, Colorado.
-
- I want To Come Home Durango Colo
- A donkey on the back and reads "I Want to Come Home Durango Colo"
-
- I'm Pressed for Time -- Can't Write
- A postcard printed on leather. Shows a bear sitting on a tourist and rifling his suitcase. Postmarked Aug 30, 1906.
-
- I'm from Durango, Colorado
- Painting of a burro in the foreground, in the background appear partially snow covered mountains (appears to be hand colored over a b/w photo). A poem is next to the picture of the burro.
-
- I'm from Durango, Colorado. "I am the Burro Passive"
- Drawing of a burrow with one ear up and one ear down, a pine branch decorates the picture. The text on this postcard reads, "I am the burro passive, I carry burdons (sic) massive, Up long steep trails I go, Over the rocks and through the snow"
-
- In Colorado's "Narrow Gauge Country" Leopard Creek Canyon
- Photograph of a narrow gauge train in Leopard Creek Canyon. Train is just passing a water tower.
-
- In Colorado's Narrow Gauge Country
- Photograph of Rio Grande engine #483 almost completely covered with snow thrown up by the snowplow attached to the front of the engine.
-
- Industrial Side of Durango
- A view of railroad buildings etc., with the city of Durango visible in the distance and the smelter's low buildings in the foreground.
-
- Interior of the "Silver Vista"
- Interior of the "Silver Vista" railroad passenger car.