And the West is History: Fiesta Parade at Main Avenue and Seventh Street – 1959

Mark Twain said, “Man is the only animal that blushes – or needs to.” If this horse were a person, it might be blushing from embarrassment in this clown suit. Entry No. 6 in the Spanish Trails Fiesta parade is approaching the intersection of Main Avenue and Seventh Street in this 1959 photo. The Texaco Station in the background belonged to Alan Waters. The Western Steak House to the south was a longtime Durango favorite for 40 years. Originally opened in 1946 in the Savoy Hotel by the MaGourick brothers (today’s General Palmer Hotel). It soon moved to the location pictured at 658 Main. It was subsequently owned by the Voss brothers, Dell McConnell and Maria Kelly. It peaked in popularity when Woodrow Wong purchased the business, adding authentic Chinese cuisine to the menu. He retired and sold the company in 1976. Under new ownership, the restaurant never quite maintained its superior reputation and eventually became the Lost Pelican in 1979. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Catalog Number: 99.01.8 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections).