Good to see you again Key Room readers,
I have another key to share with you on this lovely Friday afternoon,
and I hope you enjoy it.
Today’s key is a piece of local history that we are proud to
have as a part of our key collection. It is the key to the transit box used in
the surveying of the South St. Vrain Highway in Estes Park. If you have visited
Estes Park at all you have probably driven on this road once or twice. I use it
every time I leave the Inn and venture into town. The highway was constructed
during the 1920s and is now part of Colorado State Highway 7 which happens to
be home to the Baldpate Inn and many other beautiful locations in Northern
Colorado.
The picture above shows part of the survey team that worked
on the highway back in the early 20th century when surveying
required different tools than a computer and a satellite. It’s thanks to their
hard work and the hard work of many others that Estes Park has become the town
that it is today. Road service in the early 20th century brought
many more tourists and visitors to the Estes Park area and many of those visitors
decided to stay and contribute to community. And who could blame them? The South
St. Vrain Highway allowed many people to come and fall in love with Estes Park
and it continues to do the same today.
Here in the Baldpate Key Room we have a whole section
devoted to Colorado state history so if you’re interested in how this great
state has grown to be what it is today then come by and see for yourself. We’d
love to have you,
Rachel
Key Room
Museum Curator