Durango skyscraper, circa 1896

Around 1896, Durango’s three-story Newman Building stood out as the town’s “skyscraper” and had the only elevator in the whole region. Built by Charles Newman, an early Durango druggist and politician, it reflected the town’s strong faith in its future. Perins Peak, the highest peak in the center of the photograph, was named for Charles Perins, who ran the original survey for the Durango townsite. Behind the peak stood the coal camp of Perins, which operated from 1907 until the late 1920s. Durango was the coal center of southwestern Colorado, with mines south and west of town.

Durango, Colorado · United States