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
-
- Needle Mountains near Durango, Colo.
- Photograph of the Needle Mountains. A small structure is seen in the middle, lower right portion of the photograph.
-
- New $175,000.00 High School in Durango, Colo.
- Photo of rendering of the Durango High School building. Several models of people are in front of the building, a car is in the street in front of the building. A note on the back reads, "real photo of rendering."
-
- New City Bridge of Rio de Los Animas in Durango, Colo.
- Duplicate of 1-25. Addressed to Miss Olga Dillon, Silverton, Colorado. "This is the new stone bridge over the Animas River. Helen W." No postage stamp on card.
-
- New City Bridge over Rio De Los Animas in Durango, Colo.
- Photograph of the new city bridge over a river, a trolley is passing over the bridge several houses are shown in the background, mountains and mesas are shown above the bridge in the far background. photo appears to be hand-colored over a b/w photo.
-
- New City Bridge over Rio De Los Animas in Durango, Colo. Built in 1906 for $32,000.
- Photo of the new Durango city bridge with a trolley on the bridge, houses and mesas and mountains in background. Addressed to Miss Gertrude Broneghton Manti, Utah postmarked Feb.11, 1907 Manti, Utah one cent stamp. No message written on back.
-
- Night Shirt Race, Colo. New Mexico Fair. Camera Store in Durango, Colo.
- Photograph of a group of men who are putting on nightshirts before beginning the race.
-
- North Durango
- Veiw of Durango from a high area, near the bottom left corner is "Northern Durango."
-
- North Durango and Animas River, Durango, Colo.
- Real photo b/w view of the railroad bridges across the Animas River in Durango, in winter, covered by snow. Stamped on address side: 1st trip 1946. Not mailed.
-
- North Durango and La Plata Mountains (Colo.)
- Aerial view of Durango looking north, snow capped mountains appear in the background, bridge over Animas River shown in the lower left corner of post card
-
- North Durango, Colorado
- An aerial view of Durango, Colorado. The Animas River is in the foreground of the photo and Durango and the surrounding farmland is in the background.
-
- North Durango, Colorado
- Photograph of North Durango, Colorado, showing the Animas River flowing under the railroad bridge.
-
- North Durango, Colorado, and La Plata Mountains
- North Durango, Colorado, and La Plata Mountain's.