1959 Loveland Pass Continental Divide Sign Kodachrome Slide #CL-18
Brief Description
This scan was taken from a 35mm slide showing the US Forest Service’s Continental Divide sign at the top of Loveland Pass. The western side of the pass can be seen in the background, along with a few remaining patches of snow.
Info
- Date: 1959
- Photographer: Unknown
- Medium: Kodachrome
- Size: 35mm
- ID: CL-18
- Acquisition Date: March 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned with basic cropping, basic enhancements for light and to digitally remove hairs and dirt from the sky area.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
This slide has the date “Aug 59” punch-marked into the slide’s cardboard. This is presumed to be the development date. The small patches of melting snow in the background suggest that the image was probably captured in July or August.
Comments & Discussion
This sign was located on the northwestern side of the summit, the opposite side from where the current sign sits. While this wooden sign is gone now, the stone base still can be seen here near the edge of the parking area. This sign was in place from sometime in 1956/’57 until the summer of 1965. The next sign would use the same stone base, as would the subsequent signs up until the early 2000s.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: This slide has 4 good, sharp corners visible to the naked eye upon arrival into the archive. There is a fair amount of dirt and small hairs visible in the sky, lots of which was digitally removed for the image seen this page.
There is little or no aging visible on the cardboard portion of the slide. Only the smallest imperfections and fading are visible in the yellow “Kodak” area under magnification.
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.
