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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- Boulevard (Durango, Colo.)
- View of a two-lane dirt street with rows of trees planted on the median. Houses are shown on the right side of the street.
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- Bridge Across Animas River, Durango, Colo.
- Stone bridge with Trolley Car sitting on it across Animas River, Durango, Colorado.
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- Bridge across the Animas River (Colo.)
- Photograph of bridge across the Animas River. A trolley is passing over the bridge. The bank on the left side of river is covered with snow.
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- Bucking Steer at Spanish Trails Fiesta (Durango, Colo.)
- Photograph of a man riding a bucking steer at the Spanish Trails Fiesta, Durango, Colorado. Stands are filled with people in background.
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- Bucking bronco at Spanish Trails Fiesta (Durango, Colo.)
- Bucking bronco at Spanish Trails Fiesta, Durango, Colorado.
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- Buckskin Charlie, Chief of the Utes, Durango, Colo.
- Real photo sepia-toned view of Buckskin Charlie standing in traditional Plains Indian garb (including headdress).
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- Business section of Durango, Colo. - Smelter Hill in background
- Business section of Durango, Colorado, with Smelter Mountain in background.
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- Business section of Durango, Colo. - Smelter Hill in background
- Black and white aerial photograph of the business district of Durango, Colorado, with Smelter Mountain in the background.
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- Business section of Durango, Colorado. Smelter Hill in background.
- Birds eye view of the business district of Durango, Colorado. Smelter Mountain in background.
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- Caboose to you, too
- Photograph of Rio Grande Southern Caboose #403.
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- Camp at Durango, Coloroda [sic]
- Real photo, sepia-toned view of a campground with several tents and an early automobile in the background.
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- Canon of the Rio de las Animas Perdidas (near Durango, Colo.)
- Drawing of steep canyon with the Animas River running through it, on the left side a train is running along the cliffs. (Duplicate card from #1/134 moved here.)