Manitou Cliff Dwellings Toll Road Tickets C. 1947-'49 #PIK-287
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Brief Description
This set of historical toll road tickets originates from the Manitou Cliff Dwellings in Manitou Springs, CO.
The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are not an authentic set of native cliff dwellings, and the “toll road” leading to the parking lot is extremely short. This is a replica tourist attraction that was created in 1907 in order to recreate the experience of visiting the real cliff dwellings of the southwest. Some of the stones here are authentic, and were taken from real archeological sites in SW Colorado.
Info
- Date: c. 1947-'49
- Size: 2 1/8" x 2 1/2"
- ID: PIK-287
- Acquisition Date: December 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned, no enhancements.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
These tickets were found at a yard sale along with several brochures from the Pikes Peak region dating to 1947, ’48, and ’49. The tickets likely originated from sometime during that era.
Comments & Discussion
The road to the attraction is not long. Even when it was built in 1907, it appears that the road would have been very short.
It is likely that these tickets did not just give tourists access to the road, but acted as their tickets to the cliff dwellings as well. Admission is still paid at a small booth that is placed around the first bend in the road. Telling people that this attraction involved a toll road + the cliff dwelling probably made it seem more attractive.
The cost for an adult to visit the Manitou Cliff Dwellings in 1965 (after this ticket’s date) was exactly 50 cents, just like the toll ticket’s cost.1 Admission was $1 at earlier points in time. That price has been spotted in old brochures, but this price also included a guided tour.
The attraction still operates today.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: The tickets have started to break apart along the perforation line, but the majority of this problem is contained to a portion on the right-front. The card stock is thick enough that a cross section can be seen under a loupe along the line where the tickets are breaking apart. The problem is mostly contained to the front side, so these tickets should stay together almost indefinitely as long as they are cared for.
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About the Coloradotopia Archives. The Coloradotopia archives hold a large collection of historical images and items that document Colorado’s automobile history in the mountains. You can read more about the Coloradotopia archive project here.
