1947 Milner Pass Continental Divide Sign Photograph #CML-A4790
Brief Description
This photo was taken in 1947 and it shows a woman with two cups on the Continental Divide at Milner Pass.
Normally, the water pouring from her left hand would go to the Atlantic Ocean, and the water pouring from her right hand would go to the Pacific Ocean. However, this photo was taken just after the Alva B. Adams irrigation tunnel was opened. This tunnel brought water from the western side of the pass over to the eastern side of the pass below this area.
Info
- Date: August 8th, 1947
- Photographer: Peter Novitt
- Medium: Orginal Photograph
- Size: 8 1/8" x 9 15/16"
- ID: CML-A4790
- Acquisition Date: February 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned with basic cropping, no enhancements.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
The photo has a ink stamp that includes “8-28’47”.
Note the media clipping on the back of the photograph from when this was used. The clipping mentions the Alva B. Adams tunnel has just opened. That tunnel was opened on June 23rd, 1947.
Comments & Discussion
This sign was located along Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. The weathering and markings on this sign can be used in order to provide a historical dating reference for other photos from this era.
This is one of the largest photographs in the Coloradotopia archives. It is nearly the size of a full sheet of paper.
Backside Scan
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: The bottom-right corner has a very noticeable crease. There are lots of small imperfections and warping of the edges. There is mild cracking and spidering of the surface upon arrival into the archive.
The text on the backside “Photo: Novitt 7-400-196” was punched into the back hard enough that the indentations can be seen on the front in the lower left corner.
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.
