Colorado State Roads and Highways

645 CCoolloorraaddoo SSttaattee RRooaaddss aanndd HHiigghhwwaayyss National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Submission OFFICE OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION COLORADO HISTORICAL SOCIETY NPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 (Revised March 1992) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form This form is used for documenting multiple property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instructions in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Complete each item by entering the requested information. For additional space, use continuation sheets (Form 10-900-a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. XX New Submission Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Listing Colorado State Roads and Highways B. Associated Historic Contexts The Historical and Technological Evolution of Colorado State Roads and Highways, 1861 - 2000 Territorial and Pre-Automobile State Roads, 1861 – 1890 The Automobile Age Begins, 1890 – 1930 Good Roads Out of Bad Times: Depression and World War II, 1930 – 1945 Postwar and Interstate Era, 1945 – 1973 Completion and Augmentation of the State Highway System, 1973 – 2000 Designing and Constructing Colorado Highways: An Engineering Context C. Form Prepared by name/title Robert Autobee and Deborah Dobson-Brown (additional material by OAHP) organization Associated Cultural Resource Experts date January 10, 2003 street & number 8341 Sangre de Cristo Road, Suite 202 telephone 303-925-1095 city or town Littleton state Colorado zip code 80127 D. Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National Register documentation standards and sets forth requirements for listing of related properties consistent with the National Register criteria. This submission meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60 and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation. (See continuation sheet for additional comments [ ].) State Historic Preservation Officer Signature and title of certifying official Date Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Colorado Historical Society State or Federal agency and bureau I hereby certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related properties for listing in the National Register. Signature of the Keeper Date of Action Colorado State Roads and Highways Colorado Name of Multiple Property Listing State Table of Contents for Written Narrative Provide the following information on continuation sheets. Cite the letter and the title before each section of the narrative. Assign page numbers according to the instructions for continuation sheet in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Fill in page numbers for each section in the space below. E. Statement of Historic Contexts P age number The Historical and Technological Evolution of Colorado State Roads and Highways, 1861 – 2000 ............................................................................................. E-1 Early Trails and Wagon Roads in Colorado, Pre-history – 1860 ..........................................8 Territorial and Pre-Automobile State Roads, 1861 – 1890 ...................................................17 The Automobile Age Begins, 1890 – 1930............................................................................19 Good Roads Out of Bad Times: Depression and World War II, 1930 – 1945.......................34 Postwar and Interstate Era, 1945 – 1973..............................................................................38 Completion and Augmentation of the State Highway System, 1973 – 2000.........................46 Designing and Constructing Colorado Highways: An Engineering Context..........................52 Glossary......................................................................................................................................79 F. Associated Property Types Registration Requirements........................................................................................................ F-1 Cultural State Roads and Highways .............................................................................................5 Engineered State Roads and Highways .......................................................................................7 Farm-to-Market Road..............................................................................................................8 Limited Access, Multiple Lane, Divided Highway / Freeway .................................................10 Highway Bypass....................................................................................................................11 Aesthetic State Roads and Highways ........................................................................................12 G. Geographical Data ..................................................................................................................G-1 H. Summary of Identification and Evaluation Methods............................................................ H-1 (Discuss the methods used in developing the multiple property listing.) I. Major Bibliographical References ...........................................................................................I-1 (List major written works and primary location of additional documentation: State Historic Preservation Office, other State agency, Federal agency, local government, university, or other, specifying repository.) Primary location of additional data: [ ] State Historic Preservation Office [X] Other State Agency [ ] Federal Agency [ ] Local Government [ ] University [ ] Other Name of repository: Colorado Department of Transportation Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 120 hours per response including time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Projects (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. NPS Form 10-900a (Rev. 8/86) OMB No. 1024-0018 National Register of Historic Places United States Department of the Interior Continuation Sheet National Park Service Colorado State Roads and Highways Section number E Page 1 COLORADO STATE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS IF WE TEAR UP THE ROAD BEHIND OURSELVES, HOW WILL WE KNOW HOW FAR WE’VE COME? Introduction This historic context does not include a discussion There are few historic context studies of Colo- of roadside commercial or residential architecture. rado’s roads and highways, in part because these For example, the history and architecture of gas transportation features remain functional and stations, diners and motels is not addressed. changing components of the modern landscape. Substantial bridges are also excluded as these With the exception of the Interstate highway sys- were extensively addressed in an earlier historic tem, nearly all of Colorado’s highways were con- context, Highway Bridges in Colorado. Historic structed in some form more than fifty years ago. trails are covered briefly as antecedents to auto- Some modern highways have historical associa- mobile roads and highways. tions that began long before the automobile era, such as the portion of US Highway 50 that follows This study is not intended to be a complete history the Santa Fe Trail through southeastern Colo- of Colorado highways, highway transportation, or rado. Other early highways later played a vital role the Colorado Department of Transportation and in the state’s history. State Highway 141 traversed its precursor agencies. Rather, it focuses on the red mesas of western Colorado, serving both roads and highways now or previously in the state the federal government and private prospectors in highway system. It only briefly discusses roads the development of the nation’s uranium and and highways built or maintained by county and atomic industries during and after World War II. local governments. The state highway context is Some Colorado highways contain design features intended to provide information for the specific representing discrete time periods and methods of purpose of evaluating the National Register of construction, such as the original concrete paving Historic Places eligibility of Colorado state roads in segments of former U.S. Highway 85 near and highways. Aguilar, or the New Deal-era stone retaining walls paralleling State Highway 74 along Bear Creek Streets, Roads and Highways outside of Morrison. Before proceeding, a few road-related definitions This context study focuses on the historical de- are in order.

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