Sightseeing Saturday: Walking Durango

As most of you know, walking is my favorite form of exercise.  So I was quite happy when I came across this great little book while in Durango, Colorado over the summer.

While the boys stayed in the hotel room watching the World Cup, I headed out to discover Durango's historical downtown on foot.

Durango, Colorado was incorporated as a town in 1881.

Walking Durango takes you on a sort of scavenger hunt through two National Historic Districts.  By finding pictured items, which are your clues, you are then given facts and stories about the sights around it.

This imprint in the sidewalk was a clue.

The Palace Hotel no longer exists but the imprinted sidewalk still bears the name of the historic business.  Some of the second story rooms were refurbished and are used by the General Palmer Hotel.

Originally built as the Savoy Hotel in 1898, this structure was then a drug store, grocery store, and a saloon.  The General Palmer Hotel has occupied the site since 1964.  It was named after General William Jackson Palmer who was the founder of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway Company which reached Durango in 1881.

The railroad played a major role in the design of early Durango which was laid out much as it is seen today.

Other historic sites along the way...

The Adolph Coors Company, a branch of the original Coors Brewery in Golden, Colorado, was in business until the State of Colorado outlawed the manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages in 1916.  It then became a soft drink company and its name was changed to Durango Bottling Works.

 Originally built as a men's clothing store, by 1900, this property had become the Palace Grocery and Meat Market.  The business changed hands twice but remained a grocery store into the late 1940's.

 The Amy Mansion was built in 1888 by Ernest Amy to lure his wife to come west to Durango.  It remained a private home until 1932 when it was purchased and turned into a mortuary.

 It was built to resemble popular seaside resort mansions in the northeast and cost $50,000 to build which was at least 20 times what the average Durango home cost in the 1880's.

 Although substantially altered from its original build, the Bayles/Wigglesworth House is still one of the oldest buildings in Durango,  It dates from 1882 and survived the fire of 1889.

 Before automobiles, upping stones were used to help horse riders or carriage passengers mount or dismount.  The one below is engraved with the family name.

Durango is a lovely little town filled with history.

I hope you enjoyed walking with me.
Best wishes and blessings,