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
-
- Opening the Narrow Gauge at Cumbres Pass, Colo., 10,015 Feet
- Real photo b/w view of a locomotive bucking snow on Cumbres Pass. One of a series of ten such postcards.
-
- Orchards in Durango, Colo.
- Orchards at Durango, Colorado. Black and white photograph of apple orchards in bloom.
-
- Our Cabin Home: Pinkerton in the Pines, Durango, Colo.,
- Photograph of a cabin in the winter at Pinkerton in the Pines, Durango, Colorado.
-
- Panorama of Durango from Smelter Hill
- Panorama of Durango from Smelter Mountain. Black and white photograph
-
- Panorama of Durango, Colo.
- Panoramic view of Durango, Colorado.
-
- Panorama of Durango, Colo.
- Panoramic view of the city of Durango, showing the airport runway on College Mesa in the distance.
-
- Panorama of Durango, Colo.
- A black and white photograph of the city of Durango. Mountains can be seen in the surrounding areas.
-
- Panorama of Durango, Colo.
- Panorama view of Durango, Colorado.
-
- Panorama of Durango, Colo.
- Panorama view of Durango, Colorado.
-
- Panorama of Durango, Colo.
- Photograph of Durango, Colorado, looking north toward Smelter Mountain.
-
- Panorama of Durango, Colo.
- Panorama of Durango, Colorado.
-
- Panorama of Durango, Colo.
- Panoramic view of the town of Durango looking north