And the West is History: Animas City panorama – 1897 - Durango Herald
Advertisement
Durango Herald
--°F
Durango Herald
LOG IN SUBSCRIBE --°F
  • NEWS
    • LOCAL NEWS
    • REGIONAL
    • NATIONAL & WORLD
    • BUSINESS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • BAYFIELD
    • IGNACIO
    • SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN TRIBE
    • ENVIRONMENT
    • PHOTO GALLERIES
    • VIDEOS
  • COMMUNITY
    • EVENTS CALENDAR
    • OBITUARIES
    • LOCAL BRIEFS
    • NONPROFITS
    • FAITH
    • EDITORIALS
    • LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
    • COLUMNS
  • SPORTS
    • HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
    • COLLEGE SPORTS
    • LOCAL PRO ATHLETES
    • DENVER BRONCOS
    • AP SPORTS
  • LIFESTYLES
    • ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
    • HEALTH & WELLNESS
    • SOUTHWEST LIFE
    • AGRICULTURE
    • COLUMNISTS
    • DEAR ABBY
    • PUZZLES
    • COMICS
  • MARKETPLACE
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • JOBS
    • PUBLIC NOTICES
  • LISTEN
  • LOG INSUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Local News
    • Regional
    • National & World
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Bayfield
    • Ignacio
    • Southern Ute Indian Tribe
    • Environment
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • Obituaries
    • Local Briefs
    • Nonprofits
    • Faith
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Columns
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • College Sports
    • Local Pro Athletes
    • Denver Broncos
    • AP Sports
  • Lifestyles
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Health & Wellness
    • Southwest Life
    • Agriculture
    • Columnists
    • Dear Abby
    • Puzzles
    • Comics
  • Marketplace
    • Classifieds
    • Jobs
    • Public Notices
  • Listen
Southwest Life

And the West is History: Animas City panorama – 1897

Monday, Oct 20, 2025 5:00 AM MT

SHARE
SHARE Facebook Email

On a clear November day in 1897, Whitman Cross and A.C. Spencer lugged their heavy cameras up Animas Mountain to take this panoramic view of Animas City for the U.S. Geological Survey. The view looks southeast across the valley. By 1897, Animas City had lost its status as the predominant retail hub of La Plata County to the upstart Denver & Rio Grande Railroad town of Durango. The bridge crossing the Animas River at today’s 32nd Street is visible at the center of the photograph. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum (Catalog Number: 03.37.2 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)
On a clear November day in 1897, Whitman Cross and A.C. Spencer lugged their heavy cameras up Animas Mountain to take this panoramic view of Animas City for the U.S. Geological Survey. The view looks southeast across the valley. By 1897, Animas City had lost its status as the predominant retail hub of La Plata County to the upstart Denver & Rio Grande Railroad town of Durango. The bridge crossing the Animas River at today’s 32nd Street is visible at the center of the photograph. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum (Catalog Number: 03.37.2 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)

More And the West is History

And the West is History: Malone Iron Works – ca. 1892
And the West is History

And the West is History: Malone Iron Works – ca. 1892

Located adjacent to the railroad roundhouse at Main Avenue and Fourth Street, Malone Iron Works…

And the West is History: View across ‘D’ Street – ca. 1895
And the West is History

And the West is History: View across ‘D’ Street – ca. 1895

When the city of Durango was first platted in 1880, the streets running south to…

And the West is History: Horseshoe Club – ca. 1906
And the West is History

And the West is History: Horseshoe Club – ca. 1906

Andy Chitwood, a pioneer of Animas City and Durango, ran the Horseshoe Club at 969…

Most Popular

  1. 1 Old photo posted on Facebook identified in no time
  2. 2 Denver Post article about Superfund site’s threat to wildlife catches flak
  3. 3 Is new technology a danger installed in your car’s dashboard?
  4. 4 Car owners put Americana on full display for Cortez’s July 4 celebration
  5. 5 Durango’s Independence Day Parade attendance rivaled Snowdown’s, city says

Daily newsletters & breaking news alerts

Get the latest local news delivered to your inbox every morning.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Loading

Latest Stories

Public meetings for the week of July 6-10
Local News

Public meetings for the week of July 6-10

Durango’s Independence Day Parade attendance rivaled Snowdown’s, city says
Local News

Durango’s Independence Day Parade attendance rivaled Snowdown’s, city says

Car owners put Americana on full display for Cortez’s July 4 celebration
Local News

Car owners put Americana on full display for Cortez’s July 4 celebration

Teen tribal members invited to apply for Colorado Youth Advisory Council
Local News

Teen tribal members invited to apply for Colorado Youth Advisory Council

Ferris Fire crosses Dolores River Canyon, prompting additional evacuations
Local News

Ferris Fire crosses Dolores River Canyon, prompting additional evacuations

La Plata County law enforcement agencies warn against personal fireworks
Local News

La Plata County law enforcement agencies warn against personal fireworks

Durango councilor wants remedies for businesses hit by city projects
Local News

Durango councilor wants remedies for businesses hit by city projects

Gunnison, Meeker, Bayfield and Cortez plan July Fourth fireworks
Local News

Gunnison, Meeker, Bayfield and Cortez plan July Fourth fireworks

Durango Herald

Company

  • Ballantine Communications, Inc.
  • The Durango Herald
  • The Durango Herald Store
  • The Journal
  • The Tri-City Record
  • Flavor
  • Real Estate
  • Directory Plus
  • Local Jobs
  • Careers

Reach Out

  • Contact Us
  • Contact Subscriber Services
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Submit Local Brief
  • Submit a Letter to the Editor
  • News Tip
  • History of the Durango Herald

Social

  • Facebook
  • X / Twitter
  • Instagram

Subscribe

Choose from several print and digital subscription packages.

GET THE HERALD

Newsletter Signup

Sign up for our daily email newsletter or to receive breaking news delivered to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Loading

© 2026 Durango Herald | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service