Project
Background
Below are a series of articles I’ve collected using our wonderful Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection Archive. I will continue to add to this collection as I find additional resources. These articles speak to the “why” of our historic markers in Colorado. The people who were responsible for the first collection of markers. The continuation of the marker installation in the 1990s coinciding with the adoption of our scenic byway system. The reasons why the historic markers are important for Colorado State history, as well as our tourist economy. I believe this set of articles makes a compelling case as to why these signs are important to maintain.
MARKERS ARE URGED FOR HISTORIC SPOTS THRUOUT COLORADO - The Rocky Mountain News Daily - 1924
The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), Volume 65, Number 335, November 30, 1924
(Words are transcribed as they were written in the original article.)
MARKERS ARE URGED FOR HISTORIC SPOTS THRUOUT COLORADO
Curator of State Society Says Action Should Be Taken ~ While Pioneers Live. A concerted movement for construction of additional permanent markers to point out for all time spots of important historic interest in the state of Colorado have been started by the State Historical and Natural History Society of Colorado was announced yesterday by L. R. Hafen, curator of history of the society. “A movement that has gained considerable impetus of late has been directed towards the marking of historic sites thruout the country,” he said. “In some sections commendable progress has been made. The traveler in New England today is struck by the frequency with which he encounters historical markers. The fact is impressed upon him that something of historic importance has occurred in New England. On the opposite side of the continent Californians have not been idle. Many of the old Spanish missions have been restored. Historic forts and old buildings have been duly marked. The pass in the mountains thru which Anza led his little band to found San Francisco in 1776 has recently been ascertained and duly marked. In Indiana there has been praiseworthy activity, A recent bulletin published by the Indiana Historical Society lists “461 historical markers in eighty-two counties of that state.
Beginning Made.
“In Colorado a good beginning has ‘been made. The D. A. R.’S and certain other patriotic organizations have done some commendable pieces of work in marking historic sites. The Santa Fe Trail in Colorado has been marked; suitable monuments commemorate the work of Pike, Carson, Jackson and others; and on the sites of Bent’s fort, St. Vrain’s and others markers have been erected. But still, in driving thru the state one is struck by the absence of historical markers. Towns, mines, mountain peaks, mountain passes and parks are passed and not even a painted signboard to tell the tourist or newcomer of the name or historical significance of these points of interest. “Do we not owe it to the early trapper, explorer, miner and pioneer settler to mark the sites that are, or should be famous? Do we not owe it to ourselves, the citizens of Colorado, to have before us ever-present ‘reminders of what has been done by those who came before—those who opened the way and laid the foundation upon which our great state is being built? Are not the tourists who come In ever-increasing numbers entitled to an historic explanation of our points of interest? How much could be added to the pleasure and Instruction of drives thru our state by the presence of historical markers?
Immediate Action Urged.
“Steps should immediately be taken to further this work. In the first place there is danger that if it Is delayed knowledge of certain historic sites and events will be lost. Every month the ranks of our pioneers grow thinner, and In many instances they alone have the required information. Then again, with the golden Jubilee coming on, a record should be made In this direction that would be worthy of presentation on that semi-centennial year. ‘ “Much of this work can and should be done by local organizations so that the local community can take just pride In the historical marker. But the efforts of all agencies interested in this work should be coordinated, and it seems to us that this soclety should take the lead in furthering such a program.
Authenticity Urged.
“Permanent markers might take a variety of forms, ranging from a memorial building or large stone or bronze statue or monument down to the simple bronze tablet. The historical marker need not be expensive. A large boulder with a bronze tablet attached or a small granite monument duly Inscribed is a fitting marker. Temporary painted board markers would be far better than nothing. One important thing to see to is that the inscription be absolutely authentic and accurate. In that direction we shall put forth our very best efforts.
“The history department of this society Is now preparing a list of existing historical markers with a view to letting the society and the state know what has been done and to arouse an Interest In what needs to be done. We solicit Information and suggestions, Not only do we want a list of existing markers for publication, but we want suggestions as to sites worthy of being marked, and of Colorado pioneers to whom fitting honor can be thus shown.”
$5,000 GIVEN FOR HISTORICAL MARKERS - The Rocky Mountain News Daily - 1928
The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), Volume 69, Number 40, February 9, 1928
(Words are transcribed as they were written in the original article.)
$5,000 GIVEN FOR HISTORICAL MARKERS
Trust Fund Created by Dr. J. N. Hall for State Society’s Use
Perpetual trust fund of $5,000 to finance the marking of spots of historical interest in Colorado has been placed at the disposal of the State Historical Society of Colorado by Dr. J. N. Hall, prominent Denver physician and philanthropist.
Proceeds of the fund will be put into use immediately in the purchase of monuments and tablets to identify historic sites whose location have been determined by the society.
Markers will be of bronze, emblazoned with inscriptions detailing the history of the spot they mark.
The fund placed at the disposal of the Historical Society is to be known as “the Mrs. J. N. Hall endowment.” Additional financial aid from the endowment also will be provided.
Meeting of the board of directors of the society in the state museum building last night resulted in the election of the following officers: Henry A. Dubbs, president; Ernest ‘Morris, first vice president; A. J. Flynn, second vice president; Ralph ‘Hartzell, secretary, and E. W. Robinson, treasurer. –
Newly-elected directors, in addition to the officers named, are Frank S. Byers, Theron R. Field, Lou D, Sweet and George White Skinner, Jr. Governor Adams is ex-officio director of the society.
Mark Those Historic Spots for Our Visitors - The Rocky Mountain News Daily - 1948
The Rocky Mountain News (Daily), Volume 89, Number 46, February 15, 1948
(Words are transcribed as they were written in the original article.)
Mark Those Historic Spots for Our Visitors
By ROBERT L. CHASE
WE’RE overlooking a bet here in Colorado in the marking of historic spots and places of unusual-interest to -our visitors.
I wrote a few paragraphs a week ago on the importance of saving historic mementos and suggested that the Colorado Historical Society has been doing a pretty good job in preserving the highlights of Colorado’s brief but exciting beginnings.
It struck me, however, that time was fleeting and that we needed much more extensive and informative marking of many of the early mining camps—a large number of which are now only ghosts.
Now comes Milton Bernet who beats a big drum (unreadable text) and gets around the Rocky Mountain area a good deal as an officer of the telephone company, to point out that’s only part of the story.
“We’re a long way behind our neighbors in marking historic spots,” he insists.
“The others—Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Idaho—all are doing a better job of putting up attractive markers in a systematic way than we are.”
“These markers offer the best and least expensive sales material we could get. Interest a visitor in the colorful history of the places he sees and he’ll talk about them to his friends.”
“That way the tourist goes back home as a talking guide book of our state.”
MR. BERNET has something there, and I’d like to see Governor Knous, Edgar C. McMechen, curator of the Historical Society; Clarence Hockem of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a lot of our tourist-minded business men get behind this one.
I’m confident the State Highway Department can be depended on to co-operate in providing drive-outs, as they do now, wherever such markers are placed. When such a program is completed, there could be dozens of beautiful markers along any of the major highways, each pointing up a little bit of exciting history in which this area abounds. I know a full-blown program would cost money, but I submit that it would also pay dividends, and for a long time to come.
The Historical Society is doing what it can with a limited budget.
Dr. J. N. Hall left a foundation, the income from which provides funds for about two bronze markers a year. Last year W. A. Braden added $lOOO to the funds for this purpose ‘and this money is being used to speed up the marking.
UNDER this arrangement, the society provides a standard bronze plaque with the carefully-prepared information.
The county or some local organization provides a stone monument and the erection is made on a small piece of land deeded to the state. Each of the markers is dedicated by the society with a community program.
Most recent of the markers have been placed at Fairplay and at Gunnison, the latter to commemorate the Gunnison Survey.
A plague to mark the old Georgetown Loop is ready and will be installed in the spring.
Altogether about 50 to 60 of these bronze plaques have been erected by the Historical Society and some other markings have been done by the DAR.
EACH of these accomplishes a good purpose and helps toward the final goal.
But this project is bigger than that, and more important to the state than the present facilities would indicate.
Consider the interest which the marker telling of Gregory’s Diggings provides at Central City.
Think what added interest would be given to the highway by markers along the Gold Route from Denver into the mountain treasure areas.
I think it would be worth while as a tourist attraction alone.
Bob Chase
Historic road signs for spectacular Colorado highways - The Broomfield Enterprise - 1989
The Broomfield Enterprise, Volume 14, Number 49, October 12, 1989
(Words are transcribed as they were written in the original article.)
Historic road signs for spectacular Colorado highways
DENVER (AP) – Gov. Roy Romer, an avid auto traveler, says more historicmarkers are needed on Colorado roads to complement the state’s new Scenic and Historic Byways Program. “I’d like us to have a much more active historic signs program here,” Romer said Tuesday at a news conference to promote the program, which gives special status to five of Colorado’s most spectacular mountain highways. The five designated routes will get “Scenic Byway” signs and markers pointing out historic sites. The blue signs carry a picture of a columbine, the state flower. Other state routes already have some historic signs, but Romer said he’d like to see more. The scenic byways include: The San Juan Skyway and the Alpine Loop Back Country Byway, in southwestern Colorado; the Peak to Peak Highway along the Front Range; and the Gold Belt Tour Back County Byway and the Highway of Legends, both in southern Colorado. More scenic routes will be chosen in future years by a committee that will report annually to the Colorado Highway Commission. Adding new historicmarkers to the state’s highways will be up to local governments and the Colorado Historical Society. Highway department officials said the department’s role is limited to providing turnouts for travelers to stop and read the signs. Rep. Dorothy Rupert, D-Boulder, sponsored the bill setting up the new program. Communities along the roads should find it easier to cooperate in developing tourism now that they have a shared attraction to promote, she said.
Get Involved
I need your help to put together a complete inventory of these historic signs. They are spread out across Colorado, but they are local to lots of people. I am hoping with the power of social media and the internet that we can complete a full photo inventory quickly.
Thank you so much!!
Talia