Starting in August 1980, Durango began a yearlong celebration of its 1880 founding. With an initial kickoff event that included former President Gerald Ford dedicating Historic Main Avenue, the Animas Museum and the recently completed golf course, the celebration continued throughout the year. Biweekly history seminars, cultural expositions and other events were held emphasizing the town’s unique history. Here, a crowd awaits the penultimate event of the centennial year as a Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train arrives at the depot with Gov. Richard Lamm aboard. The governor drove a silver spike into the rail bed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the railroad’s arrival to Durango. Speeches were made and the centennial year was closed with general agreement on its success and the prospects of a bright future for the town. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Catalog Number: 21.37.17 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)