Main Avenue Historic District

The Main Avenue Historic District is a commercial center in Durango comprising around 86 buildings of historical significance spread across several blocks. The structures together form the core of downtown and offer a mix of different business architecture from various eras.

The area developed as a center for trade and business in southwestern Colorado, especially during the railroad expansion era of the late 1800s. Its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 recognized its value as evidence of this commercial growth.

The architecture displays Late Victorian and Revival influences seen in buildings like the four-story Strater Hotel from 1887. These structures shape the streets today and show how successful merchants designed their businesses.

Visitors can walk through the area and explore numerous shops, restaurants, and hotels spread along the streets. The flat terrain makes walking easy, and there are plenty of places to stop and take a break.

The Gold Slipper building, constructed around 1900, was originally an Adolph Coors beer bottling plant before being converted into a commercial building. This transformation shows how the use of buildings in the city changed over time.

Location: Durango

GPS coordinates: 37.27310,-107.88000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:27