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
-
- Animas Valley, North of Durango, Colo.
- Black and white photograph of the Animas Valley and River North of Durango, Colorado. The Animas River is depicted curving its way down the canyon with snow capped mountains in the background.
-
- At the Fairgrounds in Durango, Colo.
- Photo of a large group of people, most wearing hats, looking out towards a train in the background (very difficult to see). Note enclosed with card states that this is "at the fairgrounds".
-
- Ballgame at Durango Fairgrounds
- Photograph of a ballgame at the Durango Fairgrounds.
-
- Barn and Bridge near Durango, Colo.
- Photo of a dirt road with a bridge over a canyon that leads to a barn.
-
- Between Mancos and Durango - Hesperus Valley, Colo.
- Sepia photograph of winding dirt, disappearing into the trees, located between Mancos and Durango - Hesperus Valley. There are mountains in the back ground with a bit of a cloud covering, trees and a small building on right.
-
- Bird's Eye View of Durango, Colo.
- Aerial view of Durango looking toward Smelter. Many buildings are visible. There is much writing in cursive on the front.
-
- Bird's Eye View of Durango, Colo.
- Bird's eye view of Durango, Colorado.
-
- Bird's Eye View of Durango, Colo., from Smelter Hill
- Hand colored photograph of Durango, as seen from the top of Smelter Mountain. The narrow gauge railroad station is shown in the lower left of the picture. College Mesa (as it was later known) is in the center right of the picture.
-
- Bird's-eye view of Durango, Colo.
- Black and white photograph of the town of Durango, Colorado, showing the smoke from the smelter against the mountains in the upper left of the photograph.
-
- Bird's-eye view of Durango, Colo. from Smelter Hill
- Hand colored photograph of Durango, Colorado, from Smelter Mountain, with Animas River in foreground.
-
- Birds Eye View of Durango, Colo., looking South
- Hand-colored photo, aerial view, looking south on Animas Valley and Durango. [writing on back] Addressed to Miss Lillian Naton of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio postmarked Bayfield Colo. Oct. 5, 1909 one cent stamp
-
- Bob Goeglein and Blue
- A black and white postcard of a man skiing in Telluride, Colorado. A dog can be seen in the foreground in the snow, with the man in the background. Mountains and trees are visible in the background as well.