Brief Description
This image comes from a 35mm Ansco Color slide. It shows a woman and children at the top of the Continental Divide on Loveland Pass, CO. The sign dates to sometime in the early 1950s. At this time, the Continental Divide sign was located on the southern side of Highway 6.
Info
- Date: Circa 1953
- Photographer: Unknown
- Medium: Ansco Color Slide
- Size: 35mm
- ID: CL-RCLA
- Acquisition Date: April 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned by Coloradotopia with basic cropping, no enhancements.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
This sign can easily be dated to the period between 1948 and 1957. The date range can be established because different signs were in place here in 1948 and 1957 on Loveland Pass.
Take notice of the large bold arrows on this sign, the ‘Colo. State Highway Dept.’ lettering, and the double posts holding the sign up. These characteristics set this sign apart from the one that came before it.
The erosion of the dirt around the rocks in the background can be compared to other photos from this archive in order to narrow the date range for this image down even further. The image was likely captured sometime close to the year 1953.
Comments & Discussion
There was another sign off to the right of this photo location that shows the county names and driving distances to Dillon and Denver. There was also a third sign upwards and off to the left of frame. At this point, that was a sign that showed the directions and open/closed status of Arapahoe Basin.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: There are some obvious discoloration marks on the slide that can be removed digitally in the future. Very slight browning near the edges of the slide’s cardboard suggests genuine aging.
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.
