Historic Downtown Durango - Durango, CO - the historic district of Durango, Colorado

The town of Durango, Colorado found at the intersections of United States Highways 550 and 160 is less than six square miles in area. The town was established by Denver & Rio Grande Railroad during 1880. Train tracks to the nearby town of Silverton were completed by July 1882 and passengers and freight began using the train. The town got the name Durango from the word Urango which is a Basque word that translates to water town. The Animas River goes through the town making the name fit. There are various retailers, restaurants and other attractions in historic downtown Durango including historic hotels, museums and art galleries.

The town of Durango is the La Plata County seat. It can be found in Colorado's southwest corner in the Animas River Valley. The San Juan Mountains surround the town of Durango giving it a diverse climate and geography that make it appealing to tourists. It is best known for the railroad which runs through it and how close it is to the Mesa Verde National Park.

A walking tour can be taken of historic downtown Durango that allows visitors to see both the residential and business districts. The Durango Discovery Kids Museum found in the historical district gives children the chance to use their imaginations, you may also take a walk along the Animas River Trail the runs through Durango's downtown. Historic downtown Durango is also home to the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Depot Museum. At the time the railroad was build the rate of pay was $2.25 per day for laborers.

The Community Concert Hall can be found on the campus for Fort Lewis College in Durango's historic district. There are a number of options from the Children's Museum to the Recreation Center of Durango. The town of Durango even offers visitors a rock climbing wall.

Historic downtown Durango's tourism office is located at 111 South Camino del Rio, the Chamber of Commerce can be found at the same address. East 2nd Avenue in Durango is home to the Arts Center while Fort Lewis College can be found at 1000 Rim Drive. The city of Durango is at 949 East 2nd Avenue and open weekdays from 7:30am until 4:30pm.

Lodging is available in and around historic downtown Durango. Visitors to the area will find that they can choose from cowboy themed, luxury, budget or historical accommodations during their stay in the historic area of Durango, Colorado. Visitors should inquire at hotels individually to confirm rates and amenities offered. Individual attractions in the area should be contacted to confirm the hours of operation and fees associated with activities.

Those visiting historic downtown Durango can stop in at the local Tourism Office for the Durango area in order to learn more about the options for recreation and services in the area. Durango is even the home to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory's original facility. With all of the sites and history behind Durango anyone that decides to visit Colorado should make it a point to visit the historical town.