1957 Monarch Pass Continental Divide Sign Kodachrome Slide #CMO-31
Brief Description
A man has his photo taken on top of Monarch Pass in 1957. This photo was purchased alongside a related slide that is also shown lower on this page.
This brown sign had just been added by the US Forest Service at this point, likely earlier in 1957. This sign was located on the northern side of US Highway 50.
Info
- Date: 1957
- Photographer: Unknown
- Medium: Kodachrome Slide
- Size: 35mm
- ID: CMO-31
- Acquisition Date: February 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned with basic cropping, digital enhancements unknown.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
This slide has been dated to 1957 by the seller who it was acquired from. When asked about the dating, the answer was sufficient to make the date be considered reliable. That seller’s message ended with “…That said, the only time I use a specific year is when I am certain or had evidence proving it. Otherwise I’ll use a general 1950s/1960s etc.”
It is known that a different sign was located in this spot in 1956.
Related Image - CMO-30
Comments & Discussion
This was one of the first slides acquired for the archive. It came along with CMO-30, which is also seen above.
It is believed that similar signs were added in 1957 on Loveland Pass and Berthoud Pass, as well as other places on the Continental Divide. These signs replaced the white signs that were previously added by the state’s highway department.
The stone base for this sign is also new.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: There is some slight darkening on the right side of the slide’s mount due to aging. The ink-stamped number ’31’ is starting to fade. There are very light signs of aging on the red border, and 4 good corners visible to the naked eye.
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.
