Durango

A Silver Past, A Golden Future

[Collection A SILVER PAST, A GOLDEN FUTURE]

Durango: A Silver Past, a Golden Future traces the story of a town founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. The narrow-gauge railway extension connecting the towns of Durango and Silverton has endured for over a century. At its inception, the railway was built to carry supplies up to the miners working in the San Juan Mining District. On its return, the railway carried ore to the smelters in Durango.

Durango became known as the “Denver of the Southwest” thanks to its boosters and businessmen who carefully guided its growth and economic opportunities. Residents of Durango have always believed that their golden future would be attainable.

Otto Mears astounded the world with his narrow-gauge mountain railroading, connecting Ridgway and Durango with the Rio Grande Southern line. The Silverton Northern, the Gladstone and Northerly, and the Silverton Railroad, also owned and built by Mears, were feeder lines that went up to the mining camps beyond Silverton.

Photographer William Henry Jackson traveled the narrow-gauge train lines in a special car built for his equipment and darkroom. He prepared many promotional photographs for the railroads. He was uniquely positioned to capture the flow of time as the West transitioned from wagon trains to railroads. He chronicled the movement of Native Americans from spirited tribes to nations relegated to reservations. He witnessed the slaughter of the buffalo herds. His photography helped share the natural wonders of the newly opened western territories with the US government and the American populace.

For over 130 years, the narrow gauge line between Durango and Silverton stubbornly hung on. This forty-five-mile Denver & Rio Grande Railroad extension, declared a Registered Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, is known today as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

The assortment of graphics including antique prints, historical photos, old paper memorabilia, paintings, maps, and vintage postcards, illustrates the history of Durango, Silverton, and the network of railways that connected the San Juan Basin.

An Extra: Inside, you will find 18 postcards to pull out, send to friends, or share with family. They will help you remember Durango, Silverton, and the narrow-gauge railroad that connects these two towns.  

Durango

A Silver Past,
A Golden Future

[Collection A SILVER PAST,
A GOLDEN FUTURE]

Durango: A Silver Past, a Golden Future

traces the story of a town founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. The narrow-gauge railway extension connecting the towns of Durango and Silverton has endured for over a century. At its inception, the railway was built to carry supplies up to the miners working in the San Juan Mining District. On its return, the railway carried ore to the smelters in Durango.

Durango became known as the “Denver of the Southwest” thanks to its boosters and businessmen who carefully guided its growth and economic opportunities. Residents of Durango have always believed that their golden future would be attainable.

Otto Mears astounded the world with his narrow-gauge mountain railroading, connecting Ridgway and Durango with the Rio Grande Southern line. The Silverton Northern, the Gladstone and Northerly, and the Silverton Railroad, also owned and built by Mears, were feeder lines that went up to the mining camps beyond Silverton.

Photographer William Henry Jackson traveled the narrow-gauge train lines in a special car built for his equipment and darkroom. He prepared many promotional photographs for the railroads. He was uniquely positioned to capture the flow of time as the West transitioned from wagon trains to railroads. He chronicled the movement of Native Americans from spirited tribes to nations relegated to reservations. He witnessed the slaughter of the buffalo herds. His photography helped share the natural wonders of the newly opened western territories with the US government and the American populace.

For over 130 years, the narrow gauge line between Durango and Silverton stubbornly hung on. This forty-five-mile Denver & Rio Grande Railroad extension, declared a Registered Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, is known today as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

The assortment of graphics including antique prints, historical photos, old paper memorabilia, paintings, maps, and vintage postcards, illustrates the history of Durango, Silverton, and the network of railways that connected the San Juan Basin.

An Extra: Inside, you will find 18 postcards to pull out, send to friends, or share with family. They will help you remember Durango, Silverton, and the narrow-gauge railroad that connects these two towns.