Southern Durango with views of Smelter Mountain
circa mid-1890s
The large building in the foreground is Durango's first high school. Above it is the new La Plata County Courthouse. The Boulevard, today's Third Avenue, is the street running between the two. The Ladies' Literary Society planted trees in the parkway down the center. These same women also fought to preserve and create Mesa Verde National Park. The smoke in the background comes from the Smelter.
Much of Durango was rebuilt after the fire of 1889, which reduced seven blocks (and the red light district) to ashes in less than two hours. Strong winds pushed the blaze so quickly that firemen were unable to bring their steam-powered pumper out of the fire station before it, too, was consumed.
The Moments Project is a conceptual public sculpture by Shan Wells, designed to preserve the cultural heritage of Durango, and to make visible the movement of time.
Erected 2005 by Shan Wells' Moments Project. (Marker Number 17.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.
Location. 37° 16.564′ N, 107° 52.366′ W. Marker is in Durango, Colorado, in La Plata County. Marker is on Rim Drive south of
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Main Post Office Professional Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Early Durango circa 1889 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Jack Dempsey (approx. half a mile away); The Newman Block (approx. half a mile away); Main St., Durango circa 1890 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (approx. 0.7 miles away); Trails to Rails (approx. 0.7 miles away); a different marker also named Trails to Rails (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Durango.
Also see . . .
1. Visit Durango Colorado. Website homepage (Submitted on April 15, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Sanborn Maps of Durango, 1886. Library of Congress entry (Submitted on November 20, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
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Credits. This page was last revised on April 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 227 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 20, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3, 4. submitted on April 29, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5. submitted on November 20, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
