AI Overview
The history behind this card connects a unique piece of early 20th-century roadside culture with the deeper history of Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
The Story of "Old Pickle":
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was common for mountain towns, roadside saloons, and remote trading posts across the American West to keep "pet" bears to attract travellers. Known as roadside attractions, these animals were used to draw tourists who were exploring the frontier by train or early automobiles. "Old Pickle" was one such local fixture in Pagosa Springs, captured on souvenir postcards to advertise the town's rugged charm to visitors from the East.
History of Pagosa Springs, Colorado:
The backdrop of Old Pickle's home has a rich history centered entirely around its natural resources:
The Geothermal Springs: Long before European settlement, the area was a vital gathering place for Native Americans, particularly the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. They named the area Paqhosa, which translates closely to "healing waters". The town is built around the "Mother Spring," certified as the world's deepest geothermal hot spring aquifer.
The Settlement Era: In the late 1870s and 1880s, the U.S. Army established Fort Lewis nearby to protect settlers, and the town was officially incorporated in 1891.
The Lumber Boom: Around the time this postcard was likely produced (the early 1900s), Pagosa Springs transitioned from a mining supply hub into a booming lumber and logging economy, aided by the arrival of the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.
The Rise of Tourism: As the easily accessible timber began to dry up in the 1920s, the town pivoted toward promoting its scenic beauty, the San Juan National Forest, and the therapeutic hot springs. This shift birthed the tourism-driven mountain town that exists today.
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