Captain Charles H. Baker, who discovered gold in the San Juan in 1860, led a party of prospectors to this area in 1861. They placer mined on El Rio de las Animas, built the first bridge (300 feet north), and established the town called Animas . . . — — Map (db m177471) HM
Dedicated to Charles E. Bradshaw Jr. who established the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Mr. Bradshaw saved the Silverton branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Western from abandonment in 1981 and preserved the Railroad as a National Historic . . . — — Map (db m71079) HM
Durango's first survey stake was driven on this corner in September, 1880. Main Avenue quickly became "the" business street. The electric trolley opened in 1893 and eventually ran all the way to Animas City, two miles to the north. Animas Mountain . . . — — Map (db m267895) HM
Residents of La Plata County came forward time and again to meet the challenges presented by the fires. Each person became a hero in his or her own way.
As days turned into weeks, La Plata County fell victim to the fire. Where you are now . . . — — Map (db m160441) HM
The Denver & Rio Grande Railway was founded in 1870. Under General William Jackson Palmer this railway developed an extensive narrow gauge network throughout Colorado. Railroad lines brought growth and prosperity to the West's wide-open spaces and . . . — — Map (db m253213) HM
has been designated a
Registered National
Historic Landmark
under the provisions of the
Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935
This site possesses exceptional value
in commemorating or illustrating
the history of the United . . . — — Map (db m160243) HM
The three-story building, center left, was Durango’s 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 . . . — — Map (db m267896) HM
To the west across the Animas River stood Durango’s Smelter, 1881-1930. It was a uranium mill from World War II into 1963. The last buildings were demolished in 1987: the bricks and stones used for this monument’s base are all that remain. The . . . — — Map (db m291641) HM
A majority of the buildings visible in this photo were destroyed in the fire of 1889. The nearest block featured a wide variety of businesses, including the Grand Central Livery, the building on the right. A look down Main shows smelter smoke . . . — — Map (db m160299) HM
In the late 1800s, vast ore deposits were discovered in this vicinity of the San Juan Mountain Range. This resulted in a need for dependable transportation to move the precious minerals down to regional towns and the connecting rail depots. . . . — — Map (db m303429) HM
“Durango has electric lights for her workers, an advantage to the city’s conveniences which is far more than pleasing.” ~Durango Herald, 1888 The first electric power plant, the Durango Light Company, produced Direct Current (DC) . . . — — Map (db m267898) HM
A Ticket to Tomahawk • In August and September 1949 20th Century Fox filmed A Ticket to Tomahawk, mainly in the Durango and Silverton area, with camp scenes at their studio in Los Angeles. • The cast included four . . . — — Map (db m294685) HM
“Resolve that the Mayor instruct the City Marshall to stop all fancy women from riding on horseback or in open carriages or otherwise exhibiting or advertising their occupation on the streets of the City of Durango.” . . . — — Map (db m291496) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m267976) HM
The Florida River Railroad Bridge No. 437 (distance in miles from Denver, Colorado), provided an important river crossing in the Denver and Rio Grande's (D&RG) route to Denver. The Union Bridge Company fabricated the Pratt through-truss bridge in . . . — — Map (db m177463) HM
Originated on the site of a U. S. Cavalry post established in 1880 at Hesperus. From 1891 until 1956 the old fort was operated as an Indian School, a vocational high school and a junior college. The first president of the college was Charles Dale . . . — — Map (db m294700) HM
Listed in The National Register of Historic Places in Recognition of its Contribution to Durango’s Main Avenue Historic District — — Map (db m267982) HM
• Hollywood came to the San Juans in 1948 when 20th Century Fox filmed Sand and Warner Brothers filmed Colorado Territory. Sand was about an expensive show horse that escaped from a train and ran wild in Colorado . . . — — Map (db m294670) HM
In 1880, the Durango Trust Company laid out Durango with a downtown business district and a residential area defined by “the Boulevard” …an area of fashionable homes and churches with a tree-lined median strip. The Denver & Rio Grande . . . — — Map (db m267899) HM
In 1915, here at 10th and Main 20 year old Colorado native Jack Dempsey the “Manassa Mauler” knocksdown [sic] Andy Malloy in a ten round fight winning $50 and going on to become world heavyweight champion in 1919. — — Map (db m51813) HM
Dedicated to the men and women of La Plata County who served their country in Vietnam ☆ ☆ ☆ Let none forget they gave their all and faltered not when came the call ——— Dedicated by the Citizens of La Plata County 27 . . . — — Map (db m291498) WM
Durango had all the amenities desired by local citizens. With a diverse economy, good roads, and dependable railroads, trade goods and raw materials flowed into and out of southwest Colorado. By the turn of the century, Durango was at . . . — — Map (db m291673) HM
This man-caused forest fire burned 26,000 acres consuming approximately 150,000,000 board-feet of timber. Reforestation by direct seeding and planting of seedling trees was started in 1911 and continues today.
The project was financed by . . . — — Map (db m58966) HM
Everything was up to date in Durango when its trolley started to run in 1891. It eventually ran from the railroad depot two miles north to Animas City. Operating until 1920, it was the shortest franchised trolley line in the United States. There . . . — — Map (db m267897) HM
The Utes arrived in the Southwest centuries before Europeans appeared. From the Spanish they acquired the horse, which changed their lives forever. Following the end of the Mexican War in 1848, they found themselves in United States Territory. The . . . — — Map (db m267894) HM
Every community wished to have an outstanding hotel. The Strater, opening in 1888, provided that facility. The horse drawn trolley, coming up Main Avenue, operated from 1891 to 1893. It ran from the depot, north to the Main Avenue Bridge. The . . . — — Map (db m267890) HM
Built in 1892 by Senator Charles Newman, pioneer merchant, miner and legislator. He maintained his office here until his death in 1906.
Major Daniel L. Sheets, cattleman and member of Colorado’s second state legislature, operated the U.S. Land . . . — — Map (db m51814) HM
Durango became the county seat of La Plata County in 1881, an important designation for commerce and politics. The mining camp of Parrott City, located near the mouth of La Plata Canyon, lost the election to its larger rival. The original . . . — — Map (db m291297) HM
Built in 1929, this building served Durango for 49 years as the Main Post Office and is listed in the National Registry of Historic Buildings. — — Map (db m160303) HM
Even though this land was Ute territory, the upper Animas River Valley was first settled by prospectors in the spring of 1860. Charles Baker, returning from the mines north of Silverton, established "Old Animas City" and built the first bridge . . . — — Map (db m177468) HM
The prominent blacksmith shop was owned by Charles Naegelin, a well-known local figure. Burros, lined up tranquilly, were possibly there to be shod. Durango had photographic studios almost from the day of its birth, ensuring a wonderful and rich . . . — — Map (db m291494) HM
The first Rocky Mountain
Chocolate Factory was opened
on this site in May 1981. With
the support of the people of
Durango and her visitors,
Rocky Mountain Chocolate
Factory, Inc. has grown to
become an international
franchisor with . . . — — Map (db m160240) HM
Established in 1940, the Garden Club of Durango cultivated roses and maintained the rose garden at the Durango Public Library. In 1992, many of the roses were moved from the library and replanted at this site in Santa Rita Park. The rose garden . . . — — Map (db m291679) HM
The right side of Main's 900 block housed many of Durango's saloons. Proper women would not walk on the west side of this block, except for the south end, where the First National Bank stood. Also, at various times restaurants, cigar stores, and . . . — — Map (db m291389) HM
Since the days of Spanish explorations and colonization in “New Spain,” Spanish-speaking people have given Colorado many place names — San Juan, Sierra de La Plata, Los Pinos, Piedra, Hermosa, Rio de las Animas, and Colorado… to name but a . . . — — Map (db m291657) HM
The settlement of Santa Rosa was named so in the 1950s. It housed smelter workers and other families and boasted a rich Latino flair. Torn down in the early 1970s to make way for the expansion of highway 550/160 and later a city park, the community . . . — — Map (db m291299) HM
Disturbances like fire, insects, and disease help maintain diversity in a forest by creating a mosaic of vegetation. Without disturbances, forest are less resilient and less healthy.
Fire helps create the scenic variety, particularly the aspen . . . — — Map (db m160444) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m291497) HM
Cattle and sheep have grazed the National Forest high country for many years and on occasion you can still glimpse sheep grazing in the meadows across the road. In the late 1800s, Longhorn cattle grazed the San Juan high country during the warm . . . — — Map (db m303435) HM
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 . . . — — Map (db m160451) HM
In 1971, Stuart “Stu” Roosa, a Durango native, was the command module pilot on the Apollo 14 mission. Roosa was born in Durango in 1933 and called Durango home. Stuart “Stu” Allen Roosa was born in Durango on August 16, 1933 and . . . — — Map (db m291392) HM
On the afternoon of June 9, 2002, a human-caused spark ignited the Missionary Ridge Fire, and a new chapter in the history of our community began.
On June 25, firefighters were further taxed when the Valley Fire started in the Falls Creeks . . . — — Map (db m160439) HM
This swivel end-dump car has a 1 1/2 ton capacity of ore, yet it could be handled and dumped by a single person. These small, swivel end-dump cars were most commonly called “one ton cars,” yet they came in a number of sizes ranging from . . . — — Map (db m291499) HM
Trails & Passes
• The Colorado Rocky Mountains, appearing as a formidable barrier, have trails over almost all 260 passes.
• A trail is a corridor between two places: usually a network of paths that meet at certain key points, such as river . . . — — Map (db m153407) HM
Stony Pass
• From 1872 until 1882, when the railroad reached Silverton, Stony Pass was the vital link between the San Juan mining districts and supply towns to the east.
• A practical but tough route from Del Norte ran up the Rio Grande . . . — — Map (db m153409) HM
“Either they (the Utes) or we must go, and we are not going… the Western Empire is an inexorable fact. He who gets in the way of it will be crushed.” —The Denver Times, 1879 (This reflected the prevailing attitudes toward the Utes . . . — — Map (db m291665) HM
Welcome to Durango, Colorado, and the San Juan Skyway — a 232-mile loop drive that will take you into the heart of the San Juan Mountains on state-maintained, paved highways. The San Juan Skyway was designated a Forest Service . . . — — Map (db m291686) HM
Winter comes early in the fall and stays late into the spring atop
Lizard Head Pass. Most of its 25 inches of annual precipitation
falls in the form of snow Travel can be hazardous due to snow
drifts that can reach up to 15 feet high.
The . . . — — Map (db m303433) HM
