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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- Narrow Gauge Train (Colo.)
- Appears to be a photograph of a possible derailment or washout. Railroad cars are at odd angles, and a person is standing on the top of a box car. Surrounding area appears to be fairly flat.
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- Narrow Gauge Train Crossing a Railroad Bridge in Colo.
- Photograph of a train engine about to cross a railroad bridge. Angle is head-on to the engine.
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- Narrow Gauge Train in Animas Canyon
- Narrow Guage (sic) Train in Animas Canyon. Hans Will owned Richey's in Durango, Colorado.
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- Narrow Gauge Train in Animas Canyon (Colo.)
- Photograph of the narrow gauge train stopped on a curve in Animas Canyon. Train is composed of both passenger and freight cars. Passengers are standing along the side of the tracks, and on the observation platform of the last car.
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- Narrow Gauge Train in Animas Canyon, Colo.
- Photograph of a seven-car passenger train in the Animas Canyon.
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- Narrow Gauge Train in Animas Canyon, Colo.
- Photograph of the narrow gauge train crossing a railroad bridge in Animas Canyon. Steep hillsides are shown in the background of the photograph.
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- Narrow Gauge Train near Durango, Colorado
- Photograph of engine #499 at the Highway 160 crossing at Grandview (east of Durango, Colorado).
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- Narrow Gauge Train near Durango, Colorado
- Narrow gauge train near Durango, Colorado. "Visit narrow gauge museum, Alamosa, Colorado."
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- Narrow Gauge at Cumbres Pass, Colo., 10015 ft.
- Real photo b/w view of a track crossing at Cumbres Pass. One of a series of ten such postcards.
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- Narrow Gauge, Durango-Silverton Zephyr in Animas Valley, Colorado
- Photograph of a train steaming along tracks somewhere in the Animas Valley. Mountains in background, car waiting at crossing.
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- Navajo Rug Weaver
- Photo of a Navajo Rug weaver with three children near the loom. Written on back: "I am very anxious to hear from you about the flood. I hope my son and family are not in the flood. Please answer as soon as you get this. I am so worried." Addressed to Gail, from Grandma.
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- Needle Mountains (Las Animas Canyon, Colo.)
- Hand colored photograph of train heading up canyon on the left side river running through the valley, snow capped mountains in the far background. (Duplicate card moved here from #4/200.)