Durango in La Plata County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Fassbinder's Legacy
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 25, 2024
1. Fassbinder's Legacy Marker
As a building contractor and an astute businessman, Fassbinder homesteaded property on both sides of the Animas River, built the first bridge across the river, and provided drinking water for Durango from a spring on his property located where the fish hatchery now stands.
Peter and Kathrine Fassbinder and their two sons arrived in Animas City in 1878. As one of the first developers of the community, Peter Fassbinder saw endless opportunities. He purchased 160 acres adjacent to the newly platted City of Durango and immediately subdivided it as an addition to Durango. At the time it was speculated that no one would live in the new subdivision because it was too far from downtown Durango.
As the community of Durango grew, the Fassbinders donated a portion of their land for Mercy Hospital, St. Columba Catholic Church, Greenmount Cemetery, and Claire Viles and Fassbinder Parks.
Erected by City of Durango and Colorado Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.
Location. 37° 16.828′ N, 107° 52.571′ W. Marker is in Durango, Colorado, in La Plata County. It can be reached from East 2nd Avenue
this page online
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 Iron Horse (here, next to this marker); Main Avenue Bridge, circa 1908 (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Electric Revolution (approx. Ό mile away); A Pleasant Summer Afternoon, circa 1885 (approx. Ό mile away); Stuart Allen Roosa (approx. 0.3 miles away); Southern Durango with views of Smelter Mountain (approx. 0.4 miles away); La Plata County Vietnam Veteran Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Fancy Ladies (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Durango.
Also see . . . Peter Fassbinder (1834-1920). Find A Grave website entry:
(Greenmount Cemetery, Durango, La Plata County, Colorado, USA) Excerpt: His 1880 U. S. Census lists him living in Animas Valley, La Plata County, Colorado with his wife and two sons. Here he became a Real Estate Developer and Silver Miner. In the former case, his real estate endeavors resulted in him being designated as a Founder of North Durango. As a Silver Miner, he and his two sons created the Fassbinder Group, a mining company that lasted decades following his death(Submitted on March 17, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)in 1920.Courtesy Fort Lewis College, Center of Southwest Studies2. Marker detail: Peter FassbinderPeter Fassbinder emigrated to the United States from Prussia at the age of twenty.
Courtesy Fort Lewis College, Center of Southwest Studies
3. Marker detail: Fassbinders subdivision in the 1880s, north of the Main Avenue Bridge
Courtesy Fort Lewis College, Center of Southwest Studies
4. Marker detail: Kathrine Fassbinder
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 25, 2024
5. Fassbinder's Legacy Marker
Looking north across the Animas River toward Durango's Fassbinder subdivision. The Durango State Fish Hatchery is obscured by foliage on the right.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 357 times since then and 164 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 17, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
