This reproduction map was part of a 1940 brochure that was “presented by the Resorts and Places of Business shown here, to help make your vacation more enjoyable.” The 1940 Map of Principal Highways Across Northern Colorado, created by cartographer C. H. Ruth, is a striking pictorial representation of the region’s road network and tourist economy just before the interstate era. The map focuses on key transportation routes traversing the northern Front Range and the Rocky Mountains, including areas around Fort Collins, Boulder, Estes Park, Loveland, Idaho Springs, and Denver and all the way to Craig and Steamboat Springs. Bold black lines trace U.S. and Colorado state highways—many of which would later become modern routes like US 36 and US 40—while notable landmarks such as Rocky Mountain National Park and Dinosaur National Monument are prominently marked. Alongside the roads, the map is filled with detailed illustrations of tourist lodges, service stations, and mountain cabins, each numbered and linked to a corresponding index of 223 businesses and sites of interest. On the original map, the verso features detailed insets of town centers like Boulder, Loveland, and Grand Lake, including a unique illustration of the University of Colorado campus.
Additional information
Weight | .25 lbs |
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Dimensions | 5 × 20 × .002 in |
Map Maker: C.H. Ruth
Original Production Year: 1940
Year: 1940
Original Production Year: 1940
Year: 1940