Postcard Markers - Pikes Peak

Colorado Springs, Colorado

1963 postcard of Pikes Peak historical marker

As you head south from Denver, Pikes Peak looms down the freeway visible for miles through your front car window. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Colorado Department of Highways installed several large wood highway markers along US Route 85/87 informing you of the fact and providing a history of America's most celebrated peak. One of these highway markers near Colorado Springs was captured in a color postcard made by Thomas Dexter Press in the 1950s.

It was a good and lasting thing this postcard was created and captured the historical marker. Because this marker and like markers on Pikes Peak have disappeared. In the 1950s Colorado began transforming US Route 85/87 into freeways as part of the United States Interstate Highway System. This marker survived the first freeway improvements in this area that were completed in the 1960s and became an anchor for a scenic overlook. The overlook remained for several decades and was even augmented in the late 1980s when it commemorated Jasper D. Ackerman. This stop on the freeway became known as the Ackerman Overlook.

With age comes decay, and after more than 40 years this marker was removed in the early 2000s. Because the marker did not meet the then marker style for the Colorado Department of Transportation or the State Historical Society, it was not replaced. The Ackerman Overlook did not survive the second set of freeway improvements when the freeway was widened with more travel lanes. The Ackerman Overlook was moved in 2015 just 1/3 mile to the north on the freeway and now has interpretive signs on the United States Air Force Academy. But it has no historical markers on Pikes Peak, which still rises to the southwest of the scenic overlook.

General location of marker viewed from Interstate 25
Marker was removed in early 2000s and the overlook removed in 2013

Back side of postcard

Marker Information

Name:  Southwest Rises the Summit of Pikes Peak
Type:  Colorado Department of Highways Wood Highway Marker
Year Erected:  Prior to 1963
Location:  US Route 85/87 (now supplanted by Interstate 25) north of Colorado Springs, Colorado near US Air Force Academy
Location Coordinates:  38.974169, -104.807841

Marker Inscription:

Southwest Rises the Summit of
Pikes Peak
     This mountain, 14,110 feet above the sea and the most celebrated peak in America, is named for the explorer, Capt. Zebulon M. Pike, who saw it first in 1806. He attempted to climb it, failed and reported it unclimbable. Ascended in 1820 by Dr. Edwin James, a later explorer. A cog railway reached the summit in 1890 and a highway, in 1915. Motor races up the peak are held annually. The resort city of Colorado Springs, founded 1871, nestles at its foot where the first town called Colorado stood years earlier. The U. S. Air Force Academy rises ten miles north.
     Pikes Peak is famed for its history and conspicuous position. Colorado contains more than fifty mountains over 14,000 feet high.

Postcard Markers - The Shrine of Democracy

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota

1946 postcard of
The Shrine of Democracy historical marker

Mount Rushmore has not changed much over the last 70 years. The faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt and that side of the mountain look pretty much the same as they did in 1941 when the busts were completed.

But stand east of the mountain and lower your gaze down from the presidents. You will be in the midst of a multitude of changes that have been made to the landscape below the presidents over the last 60 years. You could probably write a book about all the changes the National Park Service has made: the visitor center, concessions building, amphitheater, parking garages, etc.

I want to talk only about one small area in this sea of change. The road leading to Mount Rushmore ventured closer to the presidents than it does today. In the 1940s the road led you to a viewing area beneath the busts of the presidents. The marker was installed in the 1940s and located alongside the road that led to the viewing area. The location of the marker next to a large, pronounced rock by the road is clearly shown in the postcard image.

Decades later the popularity of Mount Rushmore has grown substantially, and facilities and services for visitors have been built closer and closer to the presidents. The road leading to Mount Rushmore has been pulled back and now ends at parking garages. In its place now at this location is the Avenue of Flags, a wide walkway leading from the concessions building to the visitor center and amphitheater. However, the rock next to the marker still lies at its origin just northwest of the concessions building. The rock has changed little, if any, despite everything going on around it.

The historical marker was lost when the road was removed and was never replaced. Thanks to this postcard, however, a snapshot of the marker in 1946 will remain, providing a synopsis of The Shrine of  Democracy as it was enjoyed by auto visitors in the 1940s. 

The 1946 historical marker was located in front
of the rocks on the right side of the walkway

Back side of 1946 postcard

Marker Information

Name:  The Shrine of Democracy
Type:  Wood highway marker
Year Erected:  1940s
Location:  Mt. Rushmore National Memorial
Location Coordinates:  43.876641, -103.455201

Marker Inscription:

The Shrine of Democracy

Mt. Rushmore National Memorial

World's greatest sculptural work began in 1927. Gutzon Borglum, world's artist and sculptor, planned and supervised the monument. Financed by contributions and Federal funds. Busts are proportionate to men 465 ft. high. Top of Washington's head to tip of chin 60 ft. Rock is ageless granite. Busts are of Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln. Memorial dedicated by Calvin Coolidge 1927. Dedication of Washington by J.S. Cullinan 1930, Jefferson by F.D. Roosevelt 1936, Lincoln by Sen. Burke 1937, Roosevelt by Gov. Bushfield 1939. Sculptor died 1941, son carries work to completion.

(Along the top border of the marker is the following information, from left to right)

103(degrees) 27' W. Long.
Elevation  6200 ft.
43(degrees) 53' N. Lat.