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
-
- Durango (Colo.)
- Black and white photo of a group of people looking towards a valley. Two men on horseback in the fairground. Note on back of card "Durango"
-
- Durango (Colo.)
- Hand painted aerial photograph of Durango, snow capped mountains overlook the town. Writing on the back - "Here in this burg now. Remember the old times, Dean"
-
- Durango (Colo.)
- View of downtown Durango and the First National Bank, The Hub and The Office shops. Several people crossing the street and walking on the sidewalks along sides of the Bank. Street unpaved in picture.
-
- Durango (Colo.) Panoramic View
- Panels 3 & 4 of the panorama view of early Durango, Colorado with view of the Animas River.
-
- Durango (Colo.) Public Library
- Photo of the two-story Durango public library building. Two small trees are in front of the building, behind and on the right there is another structure that resembles a church.
-
- Durango (Colo.) Rio Grande Southern Engine #20
- Photograph of Rio Grande Southern Engine #20 sitting on the roundhouse bridge in the Durango, Colorado Station.
-
- Durango (Colo.), 1948
- Photograph of a train sitting in the Durango railroad terminal with railroad workers on the tracks. Several people are standing and walking on the station platform to the right of the card.
-
- Durango (Colo.), 434 Sixth Street
- Black and white photograph of a house in winter, marked 1910 on the front, and noted on the back to be 434 Sixth Street, Durango, Colorado.
-
- Durango (Colo.), July 1912
- Picture of a couple with their children on horses outside of shop on Main Street in Durango, Colorado in July of 1912.
-
- Durango (Colo.), Looking Southeast
- Panorama photograph of Durango, Colorado, looking southeast. The mesa is seen in the middle left.
-
- Durango - 1930
- Main Street Durango, 1930, looking north on Main Avenue.
-
- Durango - Alamosa Narrow Gauge Passenger
- Photograph of a narrow gauge passenger train, engine #488, Durango - Alamosa.