A new book on the history of Durango tells of the town’s intimate relationship with regional railroads through historic photos, antique prints and maps.
“Durango: A Silver Past, a Golden Future” is not designed to resemble the dry textbook that you fell asleep reading during school; instead it’s a punchy retelling of the region’s history from its native inhabitants through modern day.
Readers will come away with insight into how the city boomed with smelters processing mining ore and how the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad survived the rise of automobiles, author Susan Dalton promises.
The book on Durango is her second project, following a similar book on Telluride.
She picked Durango for her next project because of the warm welcome she received, she writes in the forward of the book.
“I think that this spirit of welcome is an example of long-engrained Durango hospitality and community confidence,” she wrote.
The book was released Tuesday, and Dalton will be in town for a book-signing from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at Maria’s Bookshop.
Mary Shinn
