Denver Public Library Western History/Genealogy Digital Collections

- Switchback on Colorado and Southern Railway
- View of the switchback on the Colorado and Southern Railway between Central City and Black Hawk in Gilpin County, Colorado. A train has pulled onto the switchback siding.
- Colorado and Southern Railway--1900-1910.; Gilpin County (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Narrow gauge railroads.; Railroad tracks.
- [between 1900 and 1910?]
- Colorado Central Railroad switchback
- Stereographic view of a track of the Colorado Central Railroad runs from the foreground and curves around a rocky hillside on the switchback between Central City and Blackhawk in Gilpin County, Colorado. Another portion of the track is visible...
- Gilpin County (Colo.)--1870-1900.; Hills--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Railroad tracks--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Colorado Central Railroad Company.
- [between 1875 and 1900?]
- Colorado Central Railroad switchback
- Stereographic view of two men standing on the tracks of the Colorado Central Railroad on the switchback between Blackhawk and Central City in Gilpin County, Colorado. The two men look toward the trestle over the Running Lode Gulch in the...
- Aspen--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Gilpin County (Colo.)--1870-1900.; Canyons--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Railroad tracks--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Trestles--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Colorado Central...
- [between 1875 and 1900?]
- Switchback to Central
- A railroad trestle crosses a gulch in the foreground on the Colorado Central Railroad switchback between Central City and Blackhawk in Gilpin County, Colorado. The track continues to curve around the hillside in the background. A large cloud of...
- Gilpin County (Colo.)--1870-1900.; Canyons--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Railroad tracks--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Trestles--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Colorado Central Railroad Company.
- [between 1875 and 1900?]
- Switch Back near Central City, Col.
- A railroad trestle crosses a gulch on the Colorado Central Railroad switchback between Central City and Blackhawk in Gilpin County, Colorado. The track continues to curve around the hillside in the distance. Shows two trains with locomotives "30"...
- Gilpin County (Colo.)--1880-1900.; Railroads--Colorado--Gilpin County--1880-1900.; Trestles--Colorado--Gilpin County--1880-1900.
- [between 1880 and 1900?]
- Williams Cañon
- Williams Canyon near Colorado Springs, Colorado; shows switchback dirt road in the canyon, vertical rock walls, and horse-drawn wagon and carriage pulled over at switchback.
- Williams Canyon (El Paso County Colo.)--1900-1910.; Canyons--Colorado--1900-1910.
- [between 1900 and 1910]
- Silver Plume from switch back, Argentine Centra [sic] R.R.
- View of switchbacks or completed grading up Pendleton Mountain for Argentine Central Railway's narrow gauge track; shows Silver Plume, Colorado, and Georgetown Loop narrow gauge track.
- Railroads--Grades--Colorado--1900-1910.; Pendleton Mountain (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Silver Plume (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Argentine Central Railway Company.
- [1905]
- The switchback on Monarch Branch, D.& R.G.Ry.
- A Denver & Rio Grande Railway train approaches a switchback on the Monarch Branch near Garfield (Chaffee County), Colorado. Two men stand near the railroad tracks.
- Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company--1880-1890.; Chaffee County (Colo.)--1880-1890.; Railroad tracks--Colorado--Chaffee County--1880-1890.; Railroads--Colorado--Chaffee County--1880-1890.
- [between 1882 and 1890?]
- The Switchback on Monarch Branch, D.& R.G.RY.
- A Denver and Rio Grande Railway train approaches a track switchback on the Monarch Branch near Garfield (Chaffee County), Colorado. Two men stand near the railroad tracks.
- Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company--1880-1890.; Chaffee County (Colo.)--1880-1890.; Monarch Pass (Colo.)--1880-1890.; Passes (Landforms)--Colorado--Chaffee County--1880-1890.; Railroads--Colorado--Chaffee County--1880-1890.
- [between 1880 and 1886?]
- Georgetown Loop from Argentine Central switchback
- View of Georgetown Loop, Clear Creek Canyon and distant Georgetown, Colorado, taken from Argentine Central Railway switchback on Pendleton Mountain; shows Colorado and Southern Railway train on high bridge, narrow gauge track, mine dumps, and...
- Georgetown (Colo.)--1900-1920.; Pendleton Mountain (Colo.)--1900-1920.; Narrow-gage railroads--Colorado--1900-1920.; Argentine Central Railway Company.; Colorado and Southern Railway.
- [between 1906 and 1913]
- Switchback at Red Mountain
- View of Red Mountain with railroad tracks, locomotive, railroad cars, and switchback, probably in Ouray County, Colorado. Men stand on the railroad cars and on the tracks.
- Ouray County (Colo.)--1880-1900.; Railroads--Colorado--Ouray County--1880-1900.
- [between 1882 and 1900?]
- Bldg. the NP over the switchback bold decapod
- Workers of the Northern Pacific Railroad construct track around a snowy, switchback curve somewhere in Colorado. Many of the workers stand on top of a flatbed car stacked with logs.
- Northern Pacific Railroad Company--1880-1890.; Railroad construction & maintenance--Colorado--1880-1890.; Railroad construction workers--Colorado--1880-1890.; Railroad freight cars--Colorado--1880-1890.
- 1886
- Auto on switchback rd., Pikes Peak
- A car on an unpaved switchback on Pikes Peak road above Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado.
- Pikes Peak (Colo.)--1920-1930.; Roads--Colorado--El Paso County--1920-1930.
- [between 1920 and 1930?]
- Auto on switchback road, Pikes Peak
- View of a car on a switchback, possibly Pikes Peak Road, near Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, shows patches of snow and ice on slopes.
- Pikes Peak (Colo.)--1910-1930.; Roads--Colorado--El Paso County--1910-1930.
- [between 1915 and 1925?]
- Switchback - as gondolas of second cut go up toward upper switch
- A Denver and Rio Grande Western narrow gauge freight train (Monarch Branch) ascends the Garfield switchback near Garfield, (Chaffee County), Colorado.
- Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Company--1940-1950.; Garfield (Colo.)--1940-1950.; Narrow gauge railroads--Colorado--Garfield--1940-1950.
- 1948 September 23
- Central City switchback
- Stereographic view of a passenger train of the Colorado Central Railroad running along a switchback near Central City in Gilpin County, Colorado. A small stream of smoke puffs from the engine. Another ridge of hills is in the background.
- Gilpin County (Colo.)--1870-1900.; Hills--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Railroad locomotives--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Railroad tracks--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.
- [between 1875 and 1900?]
- Railroad switchback, Colorado
- Stereographic view of tracks of the Colorado Central Railroad at the switchback between Blackhawk and Central City in Gilpin County, Colorado. The trestle of the Running Lode Gulch is in the background. The tops of several trees and shrubs are in...
- Gilpin County (Colo.)--1870-1900.; Railroad tracks--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.; Trestles--Colorado--Gilpin County--1870-1900.
- [between 1875 and 1900?]
- Switchback at Red Mountain
- View of Red Mountain with probably Silverton Railroad tracks, locomotive, railroad cars, and switchback, probably in Ouray County, Colorado. Men stand on the railroad cars and on the tracks. Shows trees in a valley and mountains.
- Silverton Railroad Company--1880-1890.; Ouray County (Colo.)--1880-1890.; Railroad tracks--Colorado--Ouray County--1880-1890.; Railroads--Colorado--Ouray County--1880-1890.
- [between 1888 and 1899?]
- Silver Plume
- View of frame houses and commercial buildings in Silver Plume (Clear Creek County), Colorado. Shows fenced yards for livestock beside houses, dirt roads and the Diamond Tunnel, the Pelican, Dives, Baxter, the Dunkirk and the Payrock mines near the...
- Silver Plume (Colo.)--1880-1890.; Cities & towns--Colorado--Silver Plume--1880-1890.; Mining--Colorado--Silver Plume--1880-1890.
- [between 1885 and 1890?]
- The "W" Pike's Peak Carriage Road
- Partial view of a switchback section of the Pikes Peak Carriage Road known as the "W" in El Paso County, Colorado.
- El Paso County (Colo.)--1890-1900.; Pikes Peak (Colo.)--1890-1900.; Dirt roads--Colorado--El Paso County--1890-1900.; Toll roads--Colorado--El Paso County--1890-1900.
- [between 1890 and 1900?]
- The "W" Pike's Peak Carriage Road
- A man stands near a horse-drawn wagon on a switchback section of the Pikes Peak Carriage Road known as the "W" in El Paso County, Colorado.
- El Paso County (Colo.)--1890-1900.; Pikes Peak (Colo.)--1890-1900.; Carts & wagons--Colorado--El Paso County--1890-1900.; Dirt roads--Colorado--El Paso County--1890-1900.; Toll roads--Colorado--El Paso County--1890-1900.
- [between 1890 and 1900?]
- The "W" Pike's Peak Carriage Road
- Horse-drawn and mule-drawn carriages with passengers are on a switchback portion of Pikes Peak Carriage Toll Road identified as the "W" in El Paso County, Colorado.
- El Paso County (Colo.)--1890-1900.; Pikes Peak (Colo.)--1890-1900.; Carriages & coaches--Colorado--El Paso County--1890-1900.; Dirt roads--Colorado--El Paso County--1890-1900.; Mules--Colorado--El Paso County--1890-1900.; Toll roads--Colorado--El...
- [between 1890 and 1900?]
- Mt. Audubon from Lookout Point, Ward-Estes Park Auto Road
- View of 13,223-foot Mt. Audubon, west of Ward, Colorado, taken from Lookout Point on the Ward-Estes Park Auto Road; dirt road switchback in foreground, with back of early automobile visible at distant right; snow-patched peak at left background.
- Audubon, Mount (Colo.)--1910-1920.; Roads--Colorado--1910-1920.
- [between 1911 and 1920]
- On the road to Cripple Creek Cripple Creek Short Line
- View of a switchback of the Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railway (standard gauge); smoking locomotive with four passenger cars ascends mountain at right; track-side buildings visible at bottom center.
- Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District Railway.
- [between 1900 and 1920]
- Fall River Road, Estes Park
- View, from uphill, of a switchback on the Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park west of Estes Park, Colorado; pine trees interspersed with granite rocks on steep mountainsides.
- Rocky Mountain National Park (Colo.)--1910-1920.; National parks & reserves--Colorado--Estes Park--1910-1920.
- [between 1911 and 1920]
- Pandora Basin, Telluride Rio Grande Southern R. R.
- A man stands on the Denver And Rio Grande Southern tracks at Pandora, the end of Telluride Basin. The switchback trail to Black Bear mine shows on Telluride Peak and the mill and power generating plant is above frozen Bridal Veil Falls.
- Rio Grande Southern Railroad--1890-1910.; Pandora (Colo.)--1890-1910.; Railroads--Colorado--1890-1910.; Trails & paths--Colorado--1890-1910.
- [between 1890 and 1910]
- Sky Line drive, Canon City, Colo.
- Switchback along Skyline Drive near Canon City, Colorado; dirt road built by convict labor with stone embankments ascending ridge; valley.
- Canon City (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Skyline Drive (Canon City, Colo.)--1900-1910.; Roads--Colorado--Canon City--1900-1910.
- [between 1903 and 1910]
- First glimpse of Snowy Range, Moffat Road
- View towards Snowy Range and Hotel Crags, Eldorado Springs, Colorado from Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railway (later called Denver & Salt Lake), Moffat Road; switchback road cuts in hillside leading to resort & cabins, distant view of Snowy...
- Eldorado Springs (Colo.)--1900-1920.; Mountains--Colorado--1900-1920.; Resorts--Colorado--1900-1920.; Denver, Northwestern and Pacific Railway.; Hotel Crags (Eldorado Springs, Colo.)
- [between 1908 and 1912?]
- Lookout Mtn. Auto Road
- View of a switchback on the Lookout Mountain Automobile Road west of Golden, Colorado; a fence lines the dirt road as it winds down the mountainside; North and South Table Mountains flank the town of Golden in the distance.
- Lookout Mountain (Jefferson County, Colo.)--1910-1920.; Roads--Colorado--Lookout Mountain--1910-1920.
- [between 1913 and 1920]
- Road in Glenwood Canyon
- View of a dirt road built at the edge of the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon, Garfield County, Colorado. Shows river rapids, a switchback, and stone retaining walls.
- Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)--1910-1920.; Garfield County (Colo.)--1910-1920.; Glenwood Canyon (Colo.)--1910-1920.; Dirt roads--Colorado--Garfield County--1910-1920.; Rapids--Colorado--Garfield County--1910-1920.; Rivers--Colorado--Garfield...
- [between 1910 and 1920?]
- View in Denver Mtn. Park
- View of a switchback along the Denver Mountain Park Auto Road west of Denver, Colorado; shows snow-covered peaks of the Continental Divide.
- Continental Divide (Colo.)--1910-1920.; Roads--Colorado--1910-1920.
- [1916]
- Williams Canon, Manitou Colo.
- View of dirt road winding through base of Williams Canyon, north of Manitou (later Manitou Springs), Colorado; shows steep canyon walls and switchback with guardrail.
- El Paso County (Colo.)--1910-1920.; Williams Canyon (El Paso County, Colo.)--1910-1920.; Roads--Colorado--1910-1920.
- [between 1910 and 1920?]
- Auto on mountain road (Pike's Peak?)
- View of an unpaved road, possibly Pikes Peak Road, near Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, shows a car parked on a switchback.
- Pikes Peak (Colo.)--1910-1930.; Roads--Colorado--El Paso County--1910-1930.
- [between 1915 and 1925?]
- Auto on road (Pikes Peak?)
- View of a car on a switchback, possibly Pikes Peak Road, near Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, shows patches of snow and ice on slopes.
- Pikes Peak (Colo.)--1910-1930.; Roads--Colorado--Pikes Peak--1910-1930.
- [between 1915 and 1925?]
- Red Mts. Pass road, auto, & mine
- View of a switchback on Red Mountain Pass (?) in San Juan and Ouray Counties.
- Red Mountain Pass (Ouray County and San Juan County, Colo.)--1920-1930.
- [between 1920 and 1930?]
- Million $ Hiwy.
- View of the Million Dollar Highway (State Highway 550), Ouray County, Colorado: shows a car approaching on a switchback.
- Million Dollar Highway (Colo.)--1920-1930.
- [between 1920 and 1930?]
- Hoop Creek Falls
- View of rocky Hoop Creek Falls, Clear Creek County, Colorado; shows road with concrete bridge with metal pipe rails, rock wall, and retaining wall along foot path with sign "Hoop Creek Switchback."
- Hoop Creek (Colo.)--1910-1930.; Waterfalls--Colorado--1910-1930.
- [between 1919 and 1927]
- Pack Trane [sic] on Marshall Basin Trail, Telluride, Colo
- View of pack burros, men, and a dog on a Marshall Basin trail switchback in San Miguel County, Colorado; horses pull a makeshift grader.
- Marshall Basin (Colo.)--1870-1890.; San Miguel County (Colo.)--1870-1890.; Mules--Colorado--San Miguel County--1870-1890.; Packtrains--Colorado--San Miguel County--1870-1890.; Trails & paths--Colorado--San Miguel County--1870-1890.;...
- [between 1870 and 1890?]
- Bright Angel Trail, Grand Cañon
- Three women atop mules ascending Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon, Arizona; male rider dismounted standing next to his mule on switchback.
- Bright Angel Trail (Ariz.)--1900-1910.; Grand Canyon (Ariz.)--1900-1910.; Grand Canyon National Park (Ariz.)--1900-1910.; Canyons--Arizona--Grand Canyon--1900-1910.; Mules--Arizona--Grand Canyon--1900-1910.; National parks &...
- [between 1905 and 1910]
- Cape Horn, Bright Angel Trail, Grand Cañon
- Long train of mule-back riders (men and women) ascending Bright Angel Trail near "Cape Horn", Grand Canyon, Arizona; switchback trail with riders on lower and upper portion.
- Bright Angel Trail (Ariz.)--1900-1910.; Grand Canyon (Ariz.)--1900-1910.; Grand Canyon National Park (Ariz.)--1900-1910.; Canyons--Arizona--Grand Canyon--1900-1910.; Mules--Arizona--Grand Canyon--1900-1910.; National parks &...
- [between 1905 and 1910]
- Agriculture, ranches
- The first image, taken near Longmont, Colorado, shows Longs Peak, fenced cultivated fields, farm buildings, and stacked grain. Second image shows a switchback road (later Black Bear jeep road) on Ingram Peak (San Juan Range of the Rocky Mountains)...
- Ingram Peak (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Longs Peak (Colo.)--1900-1910.
- [between 1907 and 1910?]
- Silver Plume and Georgetow [sic] from Sunrise Peak
- Bird's eye view towards distant Silver Plume and Georgetown, Clear Creek County, Colorado and across Rocky Mountains from Sunrise Peak; Silver Plume and Georgetown in canyon below; aerial mine tram with carts, foreground right; switchback road on...
- Clear Creek County (Colo.)--1890-1910.; Georgetown (Colo.)--1890-1910.; Silver Plume (Colo.)--1890-1910.; Aerial tramways--Colorado--Clear Creek County--1890-1910.; Cities & towns--Colorado--Clear Creek County--1890-1910.
- [between 1899 and 1910]
- Canon City, Colo. view from Skyline Drive
- A man in a horse drawn carriage looks over Canon City from a switchback on Skyline Drive, Fremont County, Colorado. The commercial district and residences show below.
- Canon City (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Business districts--Colorado--Canon City--1900-1910.; Carriages & coaches--Colorado--Canon City--1900-1910.; Houses--Colorado--Canon City--1900-1910.
- [between 1906 and 1910]
- Scene at Altman, the Cripple Creek District
- View of the lower edge of Altman with the Isabella Mine below, Teller County, Colorado, includes a slope covered with small log cabins, wood frame residences, outhouses, sheds, smelters, mines, and tailing dumps. The narrow gauge Golden Circle...
- Altman (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Log cabins--Colorado--Altman--1900-1910.; Mining--Colorado--Altman--1900-1910.
- 1900
- Switch back at Red Mountain
- View of Red Mountain with railroad tracks, locomotive, cars and switchback, probably Ouray County, Colorado.
- Ouray County (Colo.)--1880-1890.; Railroad tracks--Colorado--Ouray County--1880-1890.
- [between 1882 and 1890]
- Monarch branch switch back
- View of a Denver & Rio Grande Railway passenger train on a switchback on the Monarch Branch, near Garfield (Chaffee County), Colorado. Men stand near the railroad tracks.
- Denver and Rio Grande Railway Company--1880-1900.; Chaffee County (Colo.)--1880-1900.; Railroad switching--Colorado--Chaffee County--1880-1900.; Railroads--Colorado--Chaffee County--1880-1900.
- [between 1882 and 1886?]
- San Juan Mtns.
- View across valley & mountain ridges towards switchback road on Ingram Peak (elevation 12,552 feet) to Black Bear Mine (later called Black Bear jeep road) above Telluride, Colorado; San Juans, background; Rocky Mountains; glimpse of powerhouse &...
- Black Bear Mine (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Bridal veil Creek (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Bridal Veil Falls (San Miguel County, Colo.)--1900-1910.; Ingram Peak (Colo.)--1900-1910.; San Juan Mountains (Colo. and N.M.)--1900-1910.; Telluride (Colo.)--1900-1910.;...
- [between 1907 and 1910]
- San Juan Mtns.
- View of switchback road on Ingram Peak (elevation 12,552 feet) leading to Black Bear Mine above Telluride, Colorado; road later called Black Bear jeep road; glimpse of Bridal Veil powerhouse & summer residence of Bulkeley Wells (Smuggler-Union...
- Black Bear Mine (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Bridal Veil Creek (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Ingram Peak (Colo.)--1900-1910.; San Juan Mountains (Colo. and N.M.)--1900-1910.; Telluride (Colo.)--1900-1910.; Mountains--Colorado--Telluride--1900-1910.;...
- [between 1907 and 1910]
- D&RGW train (Narrow Gauge), engine number 486, engine type 2-8-2
- Freight, westbound, backing up to upper switchback; 12 cars, heavy smoke. Photographed: Garfield, Colo., June 6, 1942.
- Locomotives--1940-1950.; Railroads--Trains--Pictorial works--1942.; Narrow gauge railroads.; Railroad locomotives--Colorado--Garfield.; Denver and Rio Grande Western Railway Company.; Railroads, Narrow-gage.
- 1942
- D&RGW train (Narrow Gauge), engine number 490, engine type 2-8-2
- Freight, westbound, backing up switchback. Photographed: at Garfield, Colo., June 28, 1940.
- Locomotives--1940-1950.; Railroads--Trains--Pictorial works--1940.; Narrow gauge railroads.; Railroad locomotives--Colorado--Garfield.; Denver and Rio Grande Western Railway Company.; Railroads, Narrow-gage.
- 1940