Durango History
Durango’s earliest residents were the Ancestral Puebloans, over 2,500 years ago. These ancient people enjoyed rich, fertile soil and abundant wildlife resources before moving to the mesas in the south and west of Durango, an area now encompassed by the Mesa Verde National Park. For thousands of years, they made their homes in rock shelters and pithouses, but the Puebloan culture mysteriously disappeared by the 1300s. Centuries later, the Ute Tribe arrived to hunt and fish in the lands around Durango, sheltering in the abandoned cities left by the ancient Puebloans.
Durango The Boomtown
It was soon discovered that fish and game were not the only riches in Durango. In 1860, a prospector discovered flakes of gold in the San Juan Mountains north of present-day Durango. People flooded the Animas Valley hoping to strike it rich. Prospectors, miners, farmers, and families established homes in the valley, making their livelihood by supplying the mining camps with their necessities. Although the American Civil War slowed growth in Southwestern Colorado, the arrival of the railroads fed rapid growth after the war’s end in 1865.
Durango Railroad
In 1880, railroad officials drafted city plans for Durango, laying out the rails, a depot and rail yards as well as Main, Second and Third Avenues. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad reached Durango in August of 1881. Within one year of the railroad’s arrival, Durango had 134 businesses which included doctors, saloons, and many newspapers. One of its first newspapers, the Durango Record, was run by Caroline Romney, who championed Durango as “the new wonder of the Southwest” and rallied for women’s right to vote.
Durango Railroad Growth
Durango emerged as the center of industry and commerce for the Durango and Rio Grande’s San Juan Extension. Of primary importance to Durango’s growth was the completion of the Silverton Branch, which traveled 45 miles from Durango to Silverton through the Animas River Valley’s mountains and mining camps. Tracks began being laid in spring of 1881 and reached Silverton by July 1882. The amazing 8 month feat was recognized by the American Society of Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Durango Historic Hotels
During and after the railroad expansion period, the town of Durango flourished. Durango’s finest Victorian building, the Strater Hotel, opened “strictly first class in all appointments” in 1888. In 1898, Civil War General William Jackson Palmer (the same man who built the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge) built the General Palmer Hotel. It has remained a hotel ever since its original opening.
Durango Historic Hotels
Durango During World War II
The turn of the century was the beginning of the tourist economy as travelers began to discover Durango and the Animas Valley as a vacation destination. In addition to interest in the Silverton Branch and the scenery of the area, the creation of Mesa Verde National Park in 1906 greatly increased travel to Durango. During the Great Depression, however, Durango suffered along with the rest of the country. With the onset of World War II, Durango supported the war efforts through farming and mining activities.
Durango The Destination
During the 1950s, Durango experienced another economic boom. In 1956, Fort Lewis College was opened in Durango and went from a two-year agricultural school to the four-year college it is today. In 1965, Purgatory Ski Resort opened in the mountains north of Durango. The opening of Fort Lewis College and Purgatory Resort helped to solidify Durango’s longstanding identity as a vacation destination for guests of the Rocky Mountain state.
Durango Today
Durango remains a great travel destination for outdoor enthusiasts. From hiking and biking to whitewater rafting and fishing, there’s tons of fun to be had in the great outdoors. Our town is also full of amazing art, music, and culture to explore. Dine in at some of the best downtown restaurants, browse art galleries, listen to live music, and so much more.
Explore the rich history and culture of Durango first-hand on your next vacation. Start planning your trip today and learn about all of the exciting moments that await.