Brief Description
This photograph was captured at the top of Wolf Creek Pass in the 1950s. It shows the Continental Divide sign, a historical marker that has a brass plaque on it, and a US Highway 160 distance sign.
Info
- Date: Circa 1954-'63
- Photographer: Unknown
- Medium: Photo Negative
- Size: 2 5/8" x 3 5/8"
- ID: CWO-F9
- Acquisition Date: February 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Photo provided by the person who sold this negative into the archives.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
The date range for this photograph can be inferred from a few key characteristics. The first is that the text “Colo. Dept. of Highways” can be seen on the bottom of both signs. This means the sign was made no earlier than 1953.
The graffiti on the signs hints that the photo was probably captured no earlier than 1954.
The signs were replaced by no later than 1963. This archive has a slide from 1963 that shows a new sign in this spot.
Photo Negative
Comments & Discussion
This looks like a mid-winter photo. The pass was being kept open year-round at this point. The pass stayed open throughout the winter for the first time during the 1936-’37 season. Rotary snowplows were adapted for the highways during the 1920s, and this gave crews an increased ability to remove deep snow from the high mountain roads.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: The negative is on Kodak Safety Film. A dark spot can be easily spotted in the upper-right. There are also some dark spots along the right edge.
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.
