The Denver and Rio Grande Railway moved into the Durango area in 1879. Durango, the railway's central hub, became an industrial park, housing the mine's precious metals ore smelters. The Silverton-Durango Line's construction proceeded at a quick pace and is especially noteworthy considering the rugged San Juan Mountain terrain. Initially the line's main purpose was to move gold and silver ore from various mountain mines. Durango's production has been estimated at 300 million dollars of gold and silver.
Despite the fire of 1889 that destroyed a large portion of Durango's downtown, many original historic buildings are still standing on Main Street and Third Avenues. Pictured here, the Durango Station, still sees hundreds of passengers off every day.
Colorado's nearby Mesa Verde National Park and the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway continue to draw visitors from around the world.