Berthoud Pass Continental Divide Sign Photograph #CB-465
Brief Description
This photograph from the early 1950s shows a trio of vehicles in the Berthoud Pass summit parking lot, behind the Continental Divide sign. A ski slope at the now defunct Berthoud Pass Ski Area can also be seen in the background.
Info
- Date: Circa 1950-'51
- Photographer: Unknown
- Medium: Photograph
- Size: 5" x 3 3/8"
- ID: CB-465
- Acquisition Date: February 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned with basic cropping, no enhancements.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
This sign can be dated to approximately 1950-’51 based on comparisons with other photos held in this archive. The sizing of the arrows and presence of the perpendicular sign that is added here are the key giveaways as to the age. This version of the sign first appeared here in 1949. The graffiti indicates that the image was probably captured in 1950 or 1951.
Backside
Full Scan
Comments & Discussion
A staircase leading into a small ski lodge can be seen on the far-left side of this photograph. This is another indicator that this image was likely captured in the very early 1950s. The larger Berthoud Pass Lodge would be built behind that in 1949, and the smaller lodge would be torn down in the years afterwards.
Not pictured here: the historical marker from 1929 that sat just to the left of this sign, and the Highway 40 sign that would have been to the left of that marker.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: The photograph still has a nice glossy surface, but a small amount of delamination can be seen around the edges. The upper edge has browning on the front side, and the backside has mild darkening due to age. The delicate parts of the edges are mostly undamaged.
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.
