And the West is History: Joy Cabin – ca. 1950

Many residents are familiar with one of the oldest intact structures in today’s Durango, the Joy Cabin. This photo shows its original location at the northeast corner of Main Avenue and 31st Street in what was then Animas City. Possibly built before 1876, it served as home and blacksmith shop for C.B. Joy, though he was not the original owner. A number of early Animas City residents lived in this hand-hewn log cabin. In 1958, it was moved to Brookside Park and displayed as a tourist attraction. In 1988, it was moved to the grounds of the Animas Museum and was completely restored over a 10-year period by skilled preservationists. Today, it welcomes guests from all over the world who tour the museum and grounds as they learn about the interesting and significant history of our community. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Catalog Number: 04.10.287 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)