A Brief History of Durango
Posted: May 02, 2022 by Inactive Shanna Shepherd
Long before Durango was founded, the area was inhabited by Ancestral Puebloans. They enjoyed the rich soil and wildlife resources, making their homes in rock shelters. The culture disappeared in the 1300s. For centuries, the history of the area was unknown until the Ute Tribe came into the area to hunt and fish, using the abandoned cities as shelter.
Fast forwarding to the 1800’s, Durango was known mainly for its wealth of fish and game in the area. But in 1860, a prospector discovered flakes of gold in the San Juan Mountains. Hearing of the possibility of gold, people rushed to the area and began to establish a new community. The gold and silver found in the San Juan’s drew in the railways of Denver and Rio Grande Railroad companies in 1881. The addition of the railroad helped the area to grow exponentially and led to the official city plans for Durango.
Durango truly began to thrive on tourism in the 1900’s. In 1906, Mesa Verde National Park was created. Travelers began to see the area as a prime vacation destination. While Durango saw the impacts of the Great Depression, they began another economic boom in the 1950s with the addition of Fort Lewis College. The Purgatory Ski Resort opened in 1965 and solidified Durango’s identity as a vacation destination.
Today, Durango is still known for its amazing outdoor experiences. Visitors come to fish, hike, ski, and hunt in the beautiful area we call home.