1920s Pikes Peak Auto Highway Toll Ticket #PIK-17208
Brief Description
This Pikes Peak Auto Highway toll ticket is different from the souvenir tickets that are more commonly found from this era. This is an actual ticket that would have given a traveler access to the toll road.
Image Dating Comments
The ticket has a lot of formatting similarities with the toll road tickets from the 1920s. This one also matches the color that was used in the early to mid-1920s.
This was acquired along with a pair of tickets from the 11th annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, but they are likely unrelated as far as dates are concerned. That rodeo would have taken place in 1951.
Fred Mathews is known to have been the traffic director of the Pikes Peak Highway as late as 1936. That is his name in the lower-right.
It should be noted that the underlying lines seen in this paper are not visible in the souvenir tickets from the 1920s when they are scanned with the same
settings. This indicates that while they may look similar, they were printed on different types of paper, possibly by different companies.
Info
- Date: Circa 1920s
- Size: 2 1/2" x 4"
- ID: PIK-17208
- Acquisition Date: Sept. 2024
- Repository: Coloradotopia Archives
Scanned, no color corrections.
Image use restricted.
Comments & Discussion
These tickets are rare compared to the souvenir tickets. These tickets were taken as proof of payment, and most were likely disposed of after they were used. The souvenir tickets are the ones that tourists would have kept and taken home.
Condition, Aging & Authenticity: There is 1 major horizontal centerfold, and plenty of general wear and aging visible throughout. There are no major rips or tears upon arrival into the archives.
Backside
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.
