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)

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Looking South to Durango, Colo.
Photograph looking toward Durango, Colorado, from the Animas Valley. Smoke beneath Smelter Mountain in the far distance shows this was a work day in Durango; the mills were operating.
Lower Animas Valley Looking toward Durango, Colo.
Aerial photograph of the Animas Valley and Animas River looking toward Durango, Colorado.
Lower Animas Valley.
A black and white photograph of the Lower Animas Valley looking towards Durango, Colorado. The valley along with other ranges can be seen.
Main Ave, Durango, Looking South
Main Ave, Durango- Looking South.
Main Ave. and Strater Hotel, Looking North Durango, Colo.
Main Ave. and Strater Hotel - looking North - Durango, Colorado. Jackson Hardware, Turner Insurance, Federal Lumber, Strater Coffee Shop, Dodge Plymouth Service station seen on street.
Main Avenue - Looking South - Durango, Colo
Main Avenue - looking South - Durango, Colorado.
Main Avenue Bridge, Durango, Colo.
Photograph of bridge over Animas River in winter. A trolley is passing over the bridge. The ground on both sides of the river is covered with snow
Main Avenue Business District - Durango, Colo. Smelter Hill in Background
Main Avenue Business District - Durango, Colorado. Smelter Mountain in background
Main Avenue Durango, Colo.
Looks like a hand colored black and white photo. View looking down Main Street. A trolley is heading down the street. Palace Grocery and Meat Market are on the left side. A horse is standing in front of stores on the right. Writing on back; addressed to Miss W. G-? of La Veta, Colorado. Postmark and two-cent stamp.
Main Avenue Durango, Colo.
View looking down Main Street. Two horses are hitched to a buggy on the left side near a clock; people on sidewalks on right side of the street. This appears to be hand colored over a b/w photo. A duplicate of this post card (not retained in this collection) was postmarked in Durango on November 12, 1910.
Main Avenue Durango, Colo.
View of Main Avenue in Durango, Colorado. S.G. Wall Drug Store, and Palace grocery are shown on the left. Trolley tracks run down the center of the street which is dirt. Buggy sits on the right side of street.
Main Avenue Durango, Colo. Durango is the Metropolis of the San Juan District
Hand colored photograph of Main Street in Durango, Colorado. Parsons Drugs, Wayt Burnside, Jewlery, store signs are visible on the left, mountains are visible at the end of the street, cars are parked diagonally on both sides of street.

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