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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- D. & R. G. Railroad bridge washed away by Animas River
- Black and white photograph of the Animas River and the broken down D. & R.G. R.R. Bridge. Writing on front states, "The section of the D.& R.G. R.R. Bridge that was washed away by the Animas River. Flood of 1911."
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- D. S. O. Highway near Durango, Colo.
- D.S.O. Highway near Durango, Colorado, showing the plowed road with snowbanks in foreground, and mountains in background.
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- D. S. O. Highway near Durango, Colo.
- D. S. O. Highway near Durango, Colorado. Hans Will owned Richey's in Durango, Colorado.
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- D.& R.G.W. R.R. Narrow Gauge Engine of the "Silverton", Silverton, Colo. (elev. 9300 ft.)
- Real photo b/w view of locomotive #453 on a track over a stream at Silverton. One of a series of ten such postcards.
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- D.S.O Highway, Durango, Colorado.
- Snow packed D.S.O. highway, with mountains in the background, in Durango, Colorado
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- Deer (Durango, Colo.)
- Photograph of three deer in the snow, labeled "Deer - Durango, Colorado."
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- Deer (Durango, Colo.)
- Photograph of a deer jumping over a fence in winter in Durango, Colorado.
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- Denver & Rio Grande train passing the smelter in Durango, Colorado
- Sepia photograph of a Denver & Rio Grande train passing the Durango, Colorado Smelter.
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- Denver and Rio Grande Railroad above Rockwood (Colo.)
- View of a man standing on railroad tracks next to a river in a steep valley, addressed to Miss Josephine Fr. Hague, New York, postmarked Mar. 26 1913, upside down one cent stamp.
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- Denver and Rio Grande Southern Engine No. 20 - Durango, Colorado
- A close -up photograph of the locomotive "Emma Sweeny" narrow gauge engine #20, in the Durango station.
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- Dexter Court, Durango, Colo.
- Black and white photograph of the front of an adobe style building, with a bench. "Dexter Court, All Modern, 2178 Main Ave. - Durango, Colorado. Phone 1591"
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Color photos of the M.E. South Church, the Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, and the Episcopal Church in Durango.