Monarch Pass Continental Divide Sign Photograph #CMO-321VB
Brief Description
A woman and girl are pictured next to the Monarch Pass Continental Divide sign in the mid-1900s. This image has been scanned from a photograph in the Coloradotopia archives. This photograph was likely developed alongside of this one.
Info
- Date: Circa 1940s
- Photographer: Unknown
- Medium: Original Photograph
- Size: 2 11/16" x 3 3/4"
- ID: CMO-321VB
- Acquisition Date: March 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned with basic cropping, no digital enhancements.
Image use restricted.
Image Dating Comments
This photograph is believed to have been captured sometime during the 1940s, likely during the middle part of the decade. A newer sign would take the place of this one by 1948.
Comments & Discussion
This photo was taken before the Monarch Crest visitor center and tram were built in the 1950s. This location had become a popular spot for tourist photos by this point, only eclipsed in popularity by passes in Colorado like Berthoud Pass and Loveland Pass.
This image is almost the exact size as a modern baseball card, and it fits perfectly into a standard toploader.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: Just like this photograph’s unidentical twin, it has a nice glossy surface with little or no scratching, and no cracking or spidering upon arrival into the archives. The only sign of aging is around the edges of the photograph, where a tiny amount of delamination can be seen in the surface while under glaring light. Fading of the number stamp on the back also appears to show 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.
