Durango in La Plata County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Shaft “Can” Skip

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 14, 2025

1. Shaft “Can” Skip Marker

Inscription.
This shaft “can” skip held about one-ton of ore and required either an electric or steam powered hoist motor to lift it out of the shaft.

Shaft cans or sinking skips came in many different sizes and shapes depending on the size of the shaft and the type of hoisting equipment available on site — either an electric or steam powered hoist, or a windlass (hand cranked) hoist.

The primary purpose of the skip cans was to bring broken ore from the bottom of a shaft to the surface. This was done by hand mucking (shoveling) rock into the can until it was full.

A signal was given to the operator above to begin hoisting the can to the surface. Once there, a chain was secured to a ring on the bottom of the can. The hoistman then lowered the can slightly which caused the can to dump its ore to one side into an ore chute or ore cart.

This process continued until all of the ore was removed. The miners then installed another set of timbers in the shaft and began to drill for the next round of explosives.

Mining equipment donated to the City of Durango by the Greg Anesi Family.

Erected by City of Durango.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location.

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37° 16.646′ N, 107° 52.984′ W. Marker is in Durango, Colorado, in La Plata County. It can be reached from Roosa Avenue 0.1 miles north of Avenida Del Sol, on the right when traveling north. The marker is beside the Animas River Trail, near Schneider Skate Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 950 Roosa 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: Swivel End-dump Car (here, next to this marker); The American Dream (here, next to this marker); The “Fancy” Ladies (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); La Plata County Vietnam Veteran Memorial (about 400 feet away); Stuart Allen Roosa (about 600 feet away); Electric Revolution (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Pleasant Summer Afternoon, circa 1885 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Early Durango circa 1889 (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Durango.

Marker detail: Riding the shaft can skip into the mine image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Riding the shaft can skip into the mine

Marker detail: Shaft “Can” Skip Illustration image. Click for full size.

July 14, 2025

3. Marker detail: Shaft “Can” Skip Illustration

• A chain is connected to the bottom of the ore bucket and pulled taught.
• The upper chain is lowered allowing the bucket to pivot.
• The bucket tips, dumping the ore into an ore chute or an ore cart.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 14, 2025

4. Shaft “Can” Skip Marker

Looking east from the Animas River Trail, the Animas River is in the background.

Shaft “Can” Skip image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 14, 2025

5. Shaft “Can” Skip

Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 160 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 12, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.