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San Juan & New York Mining & Smelting Company, Smelter Stack, State Route 160, Durango, La Plata County, CO



B&W Photos

HB230420

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HB230427


Data Pages


Photo Caption Pages


Item Title
San Juan & New York Mining & Smelting Company, Smelter Stack, State Route 160, Durango, La Plata County, CO

Location
State Route 160, Durango, CO

Find maps of Durango, CO


Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1968.

Notes
Survey number HAER CO-38-A
Building/structure dates: 1881 initial construction
National Register Number: NR
Significance: The extant smelter stack is the first of two identical stacks at the San Juan and New York Mining and Smelting Company (SJ&NY) plant in Durango. It stands at the south end of the site of the original plant. SJ&NY grew to become the largest smelting operation in the San Juan Mountain mining region, originally processing gold, silver, lead, and copper primarily for eastern manufacturing concerns. Beginning in the 1940s, the plant processed uranium for WWII research in Los Alamos, and post-war security programs. The stack, as part of the original smelter's operations, played and significant role in the industrial development of Durango and southwest Colorado.

Subjects
War (World War II)
Transportation
Smelters


Collection
Historic American Engineering Record (Library of Congress)

Contents
Photograph caption(s): 
1. DISTANT VIEW OF SMELTER STACK AND LARGE TAILINGS PILE, LOOKING WEST
2. VIEW OF SMELTER STACK, SOUTH CORNER
3. VIEW OF SMELTER STACK, NORTH CORNER
4. VIEW OF NORTHWEST SIDE ENTRY TO SMELTER STACK
5. Photocopy of photograph, 1942. DISTANT VIEW OF U.S. VANADIUM CORPORATION WORKS WITH EXTANT SMELTER STACK AT LEFT. (Original print in possession of Western Colorado Power Archives. Photographer unknown.)
6. Photocopy of photograph, c. 1892. DISTANT VIEW OF SAN JUAN SMELTING AND MINING COMPANY WORKS WITH EXTANT SMELTER STACK AT LEFT. (Original print in possession of Strater Hotel, Durango, Colorado. Photographer unknown.)
7. Photocopy of 'Map of the Cities of Durango and Animas,' compiled by Roy F. Goodman, Durango City Engineer, July 8, 1910. PORTION OF MAP SHOWING THE AMERICAN SMELTING AND REFINING COMPANY WORKS ON THE WEST BANK OF THE ANIMAS RIVER. (Original in possession of Durango Public Library.)
8. Photocopy of supplement to the Durango Herald, 1888. PORTION OF DRAWING SHOWING DISTANT VIEW OF SAN JUAN SMELTING AND MINING COMPANY WORKS IN FOREGROUND, WITH EXTANT SMELTER STACK AT RIGHT AND CITY OF DURANGO IN BACKGROUND, LOOKING WEST. (Original in possession of Durango Public Library. Artist unknown.)


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