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
-
- Movie Company on Location Durango, Colo.
- Photograph of a large group of people standing around waiting for the movie crew to begin shooting. No identification of date or movie title, but may have been "Ticket to Tomahawk."
-
- Moving Mountain at Durango, Colo.
- Photograph of the "moving mountain" near Durango, Colorado. Apparently a section of the top split and has broken away from the main section and may eventually collapse.
-
- Mrs. Emma Adrianson 434 6th St., Durango, Colo.
- Mrs. Emma Adrianson, 434 6th Street, Durango. Colorado, with a flock of chickens at her feet.
-
- Mule Pack Train Durango, Colo.
- A man on a mule leading five other mules down a dusty trail lined with trees and tall grass
-
- Mule Pack Train Durango, Colo.
- Photo of man on horseback leading a three pack mules up a trail.
-
- Narrow Gauge Railroad Engine Durango, Colo.
- Photograph of the right side of narrow gauge engine #453, Denver and Rio Grande line in the Durango yards.
-
- Narrow Gauge "Bucking" Snow Slide - Animas Canyon, Colorado
- The narrow gauge engine "bucking" through the snow slide in the Animas Canyon, Colorado.
-
- Narrow Gauge "Bucking" Snow Slide - Animas Canyon, Colorado
- Real photo b/w view of a locomotive removing snow from tracks in the Animas Canyon. A man is standing on the bank above on the left. Not mailed. One of a series of ten such postcards.
-
- Narrow Gauge "San Juan" near Chama, N.M.
- Real photo b/w view of locomotive pulling several passenger cars across a high trestle bridge near Chama. Not mailed. One of a series of ten such postcards.
-
- Narrow Gauge "San Juan", Alamosa to Durango, Colo., at Ghost-Town of Osier, Colo., 9637 ft.
- Real photo b/w rear view of a train with snow on the ground. Not mailed. One of a series of ten such postcards.
-
- Narrow Gauge "Ticket to Tomahawk" Movie Train - Animas Canyon, Colorado
- Three car train in the Animas Canyon, with the film car on the front of the train before the engine.
-
- Narrow Gauge "Ticket to Tomahawk" Movie Train - Animas Canyon, Colorado
- Photograph of the movie train - flatcar from which filming appears to be taking place, engine, passenger and caboose on tracks in the Animas Canyon, Colorado. For the movie "Ticket to Tomahawk" which was filmed in Durango, Colorado.