Brief Description
This image shows a family by the Loveland Pass Continental Divide sign in the early to mid-1950s. This sign would soon be replaced by a larger brown wooden sign that was erected by the US Forest Service. In the background, another sign can be seen for the local ski areas. Just off to the right and out of frame, a sign with arrows for Summit County and Clear Creek County also existed here.
Info
- Date: Circa 1954-'55
- Photographer: Unknown
- Medium: Kodachrome Slide
- Size: 35mm
- ID: CL-14
- Acquisition Date: March 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned with basic cropping, auto white balance applied.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
This slide has no date markings on it. The image can be easily dated to the period between 1948 and 1957 since this archive has the bookend images. By taking note of the sign in the background and the exposure of the rocks due to erosion, the photo can be dated more accurately.
The erosion around the rocks looks like expected in 1954-1955. There appears to be slightly less erosion than CL-V25, which is from 1955.
It is still possible that the image was taken earlier in the 1950s.
Comments & Discussion
Like the other Kodachrome slides in the archive, the color integrity seems to have held up well over the last 70 years. Keep in mind that the image shown here has been digitally enhanced, including some color enhancements.
The few patches of melting snow in the far background indicate that this was probably a mid-summer photo. The sign in the background reads: “Arapahoe Basin and Norway Mt. Chair Lifts”. The Norway lift was a chairlift at Arapahoe Basin until it was removed in 2018.
The Signposts
The double sign posts holding up the Continental Divide sign set this one apart from the sign that came before it.
In the background, there is a second, larger wooden sign post for the rear sign. It is believed that the sign post was there for several decades before this photo was taken, and at one point, that post had the original Continental Divide sign on it that was erected by the US Forest Service. See it here.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: The front of the slide’s cardboard has no discoloration. The red border on the backside shows aging and wear. This slide arrived as one of the cleaner slides in the archives, and it has not been cleaned as of the most recent scan.
About the Coloradotopia Archives. The Coloradotopia archives hold a large collection of historical images that document Colorado’s auto history in the mountains. You can read more about the Coloradotopia archive project here.
