Durango in La Plata County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Durango skyscraper, circa 1896
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2024
1. Durango skyscraper, circa 1896 Marker
The three-story building, center left, was Durangos skyscraper, the Newman Building. It had the only elevator in the whole region. Built by Charles Newman, an early Durango druggist and politician, the structure indicated Durangoans had a great faith in their future.
Perins Peak, the highest peak in the center of the photograph, was named after Charles Perins who ran the original survey for the townsite of Durango. Right behind the peak was the coal camp of Perins, which operated from 1907 until the late 1920s. Durango was southwestern Colorados coal center with mines south and west of the town.
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. A free map of 19 other stanchions constituting a driving/walking tour of Durango may be obtained at the following locations: Durango Community Recreation Center, Center for Southwest Studies, Durango Arts Center, Durango Chamber of Commerce, Durango City Hall, Durango Public Library, Animas Museum. To learn more about the history of Old Durango, visit the Animas Museum.
Erected 2005 by Shan Wells' Moments Project. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic
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Location. 37° 16.314′ N, 107° 52.781′ W. Marker is in Durango, Colorado, in La Plata County. It is at the intersection of East 2nd Avenue and East 8th Street, on the right when traveling north on East 2nd Avenue. The marker is located on the sidewalk, near the southeast corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 776 East 2nd Avenue, Durango CO 81301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Mountain West and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Rochester Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Main Avenue parade, circa 1932 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Main Avenue/Strater Hotel circa 1891 (about 500 feet away); The Newman Block (about 500 feet away); Central Durango, circa 1900 (about 600 feet away); The Gardenswartz Building (about 600 feet away); Old Durango Courthouse circa 1892 (about 800 feet away); Main St., Durango circa 1890 (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Durango.
Regarding Durango skyscraper, circa 1896.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 2024
2. Durango skyscraper, circa 1896 Marker
Looking northwest along East 8th Street. The Newman Building is obscured by trees in the center background.
From the National Register Nomination prepared by Marjorie J. Wells, 2/28/1980:
The handsome three-story red-orange sandstone building was the fanciest office building in Durango. The Smelter National Bank originally occupied the first-floor corner office which has specially constructed vaults which extended through the second and third floors. The sandstone masonry has a rough finish but a low relief overall. Windows are simply punched into the wall plane. These two features create a sense of volume, strength, and solidity. The wall plane is modulated by alternating courses of narrow and wide blocks with half round arches above the third level windows. The arches spring from smooth finished sandstone abutments and are contained by a delicate smooth sandstone molding.The first level on the Main Street elevation has large store front openings of wood and cast-iron components with an entablature that turns the corner on the south and serves to separate the commercial from the office levels. A round turret embellishes the southeast corner of the building and originally terminated with a flagpole. The tall sheet metal parapet has a frieze with
swags and wreaths in low relief below the entablature and extends continuously along the east and the south facades giving the building a great presence on the site. The Newman Block is an imposing building that firmly lays claim to the corner. The main body of the structure is Romanesque in feeling, but the Gothic turret and classically derived frieze are characteristic of the eclectic styles of the period.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 24, 20243. The Newman Building (southeast elevation)
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Newman Building
Also see . . .
1. Newman Block / Kiva Building (History Colorado).
Excerpt: Construction began in 1891 on this three-story sandstone commercial building, which is the only expression of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in Durango.(Submitted on March 15, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Moments in Durangos history (The Durango Telegraph, 2005). (Submitted on March 16, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 282 times since then and 147 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 15, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
