Photo: Downtown Rodeo – Ca. 1890

Durango was first and foremost a railroad town, owing its existence to the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. With area ranching, it was and still remains a cowboy town as well. Here, a rodeo is held on Ninth Street, just west of Main Avenue about 1890. The view is east toward Main. This was a good place for a rodeo because the Durango Corral was located along this street and the San Juan Corral a half block away. A number of hay and feed stores were also nearby. Today, TBK Bank is located at this site. Rodeos are still a part of summertime activities in Durango.<br><br>Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org