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
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- View Showing High Water in the Animas River and D.& R.G. Bridge (Durango, Colo.)
- Writing on back states "Side view of Silverton Branch R.R. Bridge water had fallen several feet when this was taken", photo on the front is of bridge with high water running against it
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- Vista of the Animas Valley at Durango, Colo.
- Black and white picture showing the Animas Valley. A man is on top of a rock from a far distance.
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- Wagners Mountain View Court, Durango, Colo.
- Wagners Mountain View Court, Durango, Colorado.
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- Wagners Mountain View Court, Durango, Colo.
- Wagners Mountain View Court, Durango, Colorado. A real photo postcard.
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- Washout on RGS, Friday 8-13-09
- Washout on R. G. S. line on Friday, 8-13-09. Head on view of engine and tracks. Engine is listing headfirst into a drop.
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- Washout on RGS, Friday 8/13/09
- Photograph of a washout along the Rio Grande Southern line tracks. The engine is listing to the side.
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- Watching a Bi-Plane Approach for Landing
- Photo of spectators watching an bi-plane approach for a landing at the mesa where Fort Lewis College is now located in Durango.
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- Water Supply, City Reservoir in Durango, Colo.
- Photo of reservoir; three men are standing next to it; it is nestled in a rocky area, snow is seen on the right side of the card. One cent to mail.
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- We Two & No More
- Postcard showing Men on Power Line, addressed to the Mr. and Mrs. H.R. Farr in Venango Nebr.
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- We nearly Capsized
- We nearly capsized. This is a view of a gag photo showing three men in a boat with an enormous fish they supposedly caught
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- Well Here I am at Durango, Colo.
- Verse card #3: a picture of a lilac.
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- Western Colorado Power Co., Plant at Tacoma, near Durango, Colorado
- Photo featuring the Tacoma power plant, north of Durango, Colorado. Postmark information in stamp area: Domestic, one cent; Foreign, two cents. The back of the card has a small figure (genie?) centered at the top.