Tag Archives: 1950s

Mountain ‘Needles’, South Dakota

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This image shows eroded rock formations part of the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota.

Genuine Natural Color Made by Dexter Press, Inc., West Nyack, N.Y.


The description states:
SENTINEL ROCKS, watchmen of the Forest, towering hundreds of feet in the air.
–These are directly visible to tourists via the road seen here winding through the formations.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

Cathedral Spires, South Dakota

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This image shows the eroded and exposed mountain peaks that have been given the appellation Cathedral Spires, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Curteichcolor Reproduction from Ektachrome Original


The description states:
CATHEDRAL SPIRES ON NEEDLES DRIVE
BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA
–These eroded formations are located within the Black Hills National Forest, which was established at the end of the 19th Century by William McKinley.
This card was used and is dated 10 August 1955.

Needles Highway, South Dakota

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This image is of a small section of the Needles Highway in Custer State Park in South Dakota, featuring one of many tunnel sections carved from the massive rock formations along the highway.

“Plastichrome” by Colourpicture., Boston 15, Mass., U.S.A.


The description on this card is unreadable due to damage on the card, some of which is visible in the upper section of the photo. The road is also known as South Dakota Highway 87.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

Cattle Branding, New Mexico

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This image shows a number of cowboys during a roundup with several holding one cow while another brands it with a long handled metal branding iron.

Genuine Curteich-Chicago “C.T. Art Colortone”


The description states simply:
N-34 — BRANDING CATTLE IN THE SOUTHWEST
–Such scenes are less common now with ear tagging of cattle which provides much more information for regulators as well as owners, along with doing no damage to the valuable hide.
The exact location is not known, but the card was printed in New Mexico, so it is presumed the photo was taken in that state.
This card was used and is dated 11 July 1953.

Walking Trail, Cowell Redwoods, California

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This image shows a portion of the interpretive trail built for visitors to walk and see a portion of the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, near Santa Cruz, California.

Mirro-Krome by H. S. Crocker Co., Inc.


The description states:
PATHWAY THROUGH THE REDWOODS
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park,
Santa Cruz County, California
Besides the stately redwoods, giant oak, laurel fir, sycamore and a variety of ferns and wild flowers thrive in this natural wonderland.
–The trail has a small guide brochure which features descriptions of important locales along the trail as marked by small sign posts, such as the one seen in the center background. These have since been replaced with more natural looking carved wooden markers.
This card was used and is dated 27 June 1955.

Redwoods and fencing along trail, California

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This image shows part of a walking trail and the split-rail fence used to demarcate it to prevent hikers from damaging the root systems of the redwood trees.

Selithco True Color from Ektachrome


The description states:
104 – CALIFORNIA REDWOODS
The redwoods, Sequoia Sempervirens, grow only along the Coast Range from Southern Oregon to Big Sur. The oldest of all living things, they often reach to a height of more than 300 feet and a diameter of 20 feet. For mile after mile the highway curves through the grace and beauty of magnificent groves of these monarchs of the forest.
–The trees have very shallow and wide root systems, which makes them particularly vulnerable to damage from large numbers of hikers or active vehicular traffic.
This image likely dates from the 1950s.

Road through the Redwoods, California

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This image shows a dirt road or service road as it passes through a grove of Sequoia trees along the California coast.

Selithco True Color from Ektachrome


The description states:
104 – CALIFORNIA REDWOODS
The redwoods, Sequoia Sempervirens, grow only along the Coast Range from Southern Oregon to Big Sur. The oldest of all living things, they often reach to a height of more than 300 feet and a diameter of 20 feet. The highway curves through the grace and beauty of magnificent groves of these monarchs of the forest.
–A curious fat about redwood groves is that the ground beneath them is nearly barren. Their high canopies and acidic bark combine to reduce the amount of plant life that grows on the forest floor in the most well developed groves.
This card likely dates from the 1950s.

Highway through the Redwoods, California

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This image shows a road as it passes through the towering sequoia forest along the Coast Range of California.

Selithco True Color from Ektachrome


The description states:
114 – CALIFORNIA REDWOODS
The redwoods, Sequoia Sempervirens, grow only along the Coast Range from Southern Oregon to Big Sur. The oldest of all living things, they often reach to a height of more than 300 feet and a diameter of 20 feet. The highway curves through the grace and beauty of magnificent groves of these monarchs of the forest.
–There is another relative of this tree, the Sequoia Giganteum, which is not as tall but is much wider in diameter, often large enough for a car to drive through a living, standing tree. These grow in the Sierra range on the eastern side of California.
In addition, the redwoods are no longer considered the oldest living thing, as the California bristlecone pine has been identified as much older.
This card was used and is dated 27 June 1956.

German Town Square and Church

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This image shows a village square in Germany, with a church prominently visible in the background.

Wilhelm Gehrling sen. GmbH., Darmstadt


The description states simply: Nach Farbaufnahme
which translates to: From a color photo
Without a specific location it is difficult to describe much in this photo, except to say that the buildings are centuries old, while the car, a Volkswagen ‘Beetle’, is a contemporary design.
The card was used and is dated 25 July 1955.

The Buchaille, Glen Etive, Scotland

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This is an image of the mountain known alternately as The Buchaile, or Buchaille Etive Mòr, located on the way to Glen Coe, in the Scottish Highlands.

Photograph by Wm. S. Thompson, Fort William


There is no description on the back of this card.
The mountain is one of several along a high ridge line that is nearly surrounded by the River Etive, visible in the foreground.
This card was used and is dated 15 August 1952.