1952 Loveland Pass Summit & High Altitude Research Center Photograph #CL-UIN-53-094
Brief Description
This image shows the back of the Continental Divide signs at the top of Loveland Pass in 1952. A high altitude research station is also seen in this photo.
There are two similar signs shown here. One is the Continental Divide sign and the other is a directional sign that gives the distances to Denver and Dillon. A third sign, mounted on a single wooden post, can be seen in the close foreground. That signpost is the same signpost that was originally used for the Continental Divide sign that was installed by the US Forest Service earlier in the century. By 1952, that sign was replaced by a new one on the same post. The newer sign pointed to the west and read: “Arapahoe Basin and Norway Mt. Chair Lifts”.
Info
- Date: 1952
- Photographer: David Mathias
- Additional Credits: Denver Post
- Medium: Photograph
- Size: 8.75" x 10.25"
- ID: CL-UIN-53-094
- Date Acquired: April 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned with basic cropping, no enhancements.
There are no known copyrights or restrictions on the original image that has been scanned. Please do not use the scan from our archives without permission.
Image Dating Comments
The backside has an ink-stamped date of Oct 24, 1952, presumed to be the date that the photo was taken. The backside also contains a newspaper clipping from when this was used. That excerpt has the date of Oct 27, 1952, ink-stamped on the newspaper clipping.
Backside
Comments & Discussion
This is the only photo in this archive that shows the backside of these signs in the early 1950s. It is also the only one that shows the high altitude research center in its entirety as of the time this page is being first published.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: Upon entry into the archive, there are approximately 30 long horizontal surface cracks on the photograph, about 70% of which run almost the full length across near the center of the photo. There are also a few instances of crow’s feet spidering in the surface. Surface warping can be seen, especially along the bottom edge.
The dating on the back is considered very reliable.
Neither the left or right edge is straight, so it can be reasoned that this photo was cut by hand out of something else.
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.
