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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- Durango (Colo.)
- Hand colored aerial photograph of Durango, Colorado looking toward Smelter Mountain with smoke billowing out of smoke stacks.
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Aerial view of downtown Durango. Smelter is shown in the background with smoke coming out of the stacks. Mesas shown in far background.
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Aerial view photo of downtown Durango; billowing smoke drifting in the background, mesas in background have patches of snow.
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Hand painted, aerial view of downtown Durango, mesas in the background, showing the Animas River running through the town
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Hand colored aerial photograph of Durango, Colorado looking toward Smelter Mountain with smoke billowing out of smoke stacks.
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- Durango (Colo.)
- City of Durango, Colorado with Smelter Mountain in the background. Smoke is billowing to left of photo. Postmarked in 1908.
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Three photos: Durango High School, Park School, Whittier School, drawing on top left of Minerva, goddess of schoolmasters, a drawing on top right of an open book at the base of mountains.
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Hand colored aerial photograph of Durango, Colorado with Smelter Mountain in the background and smoke billowing out of smoke stacks.
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Aerial view of Durango, Colorado looking toward Smelter Mountain with smoke billowing out of smoke stacks.
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Hand colored photograph of Durango, with the smelter billowing smoke to the left; Smelter Mountain is in the background
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Five photos of churches: Baptist, First Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic Churches and M.E. Church. [writing on back] addressed to Mrs. M.A. Colett Denver, Colorado. Postmarked 1915 dated 8/8/16 no stamp
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- Durango (Colo.)
- Aerial view of Durango looking toward smelter with smoke billowing out of smoke stacks. Hand colored.