BALANCED ROCK : GARDEN OF THE GODS : COLORADO : WOMEN ON BURROS : RPPC 1920’s

You’re looking at a charming early 20th-century real photo postcard taken at one of Colorado’s most iconic natural landmarks—Balanced Rock, located in the stunning Garden of the Gods park just outside Colorado Springs. This novelty photograph captures a group of five women posing proudly on donkeys in front of the massive, gravity-defying sandstone formation. The photograph radiates the playful spirit of early Western tourism. Five women sit astride small donkeys, all lined up neatly in front of the looming shadow of Balanced Rock. Their expressions vary from reserved amusement to open cheerfulness, suggesting they are enjoying a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience in the American West. Each woman wears a wide-brimmed sombrero-style hat, likely provided by the concession for a touch of “Wild West” flair. Their clothing is modest but stylish for the era—ankle-length skirts, blouses with sailor collars or lace trim, and fitted jackets give them a slightly adventurous, yet feminine look appropriate for tourists of the 1910s or early 1920s. Despite riding donkeys—often considered humble beasts of burden—the women’s confident postures and bemused smiles give the impression that they’re enjoying their frontier fantasy. Their donkeys stand calmly, reins held loosely in the women’s hands, adding to the relaxed, posed nature of the scene. The back of the card identifies the photographer as Paul Goerke & Son, who operated a thriving photography business in Manitou, Colorado. This firm set up a concession at Balanced Rock, one of the most photographed natural features in the West. Tourists could ride donkeys or burros up to the site, don hats, and pose for a souvenir photograph, which Goerke’s team would develop and print on postcard stock. (SOLD)

Published in: on August 2, 2025 at 5:45 pm  Comments (3)  
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HANDSOME GENTLEMAN : FAMOUS COLORADO PHOTOGRAPHER (J. COLLIER) : CABINET CARD

This cabinet card portrait features a handsome man with interesting styled side burns. He is dressed fashionably. The gentleman was photographed by a famous Colorado photographer, Joseph Collier (1836-1910), at his Denver studio. Collier was born in Scotland, where he began his career as a photographer. When he first came to Colorado, he produced stereographic images. He gained fame in the late 1800’s for his images of Colorado. His subjects included the downtowns of Telluride, Golden, and Denver. He also photographed the Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs) and many mountain sites. After Collier immigrated to the United States, in 1871 he came to Central City Colorado. He was invited there by his cousin who owned the local newspaper. Collier opened his first studio in the backroom of the newspaper. He immediately began making photographic trips through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In 1873, Collier gave a set of his Colorado stereoviews to Julia Grant, the wife of President Ulysses Grant. In 1877, Collier moved to Denver opening a studio on Larimer Street. He practiced photograph there and retired by the turn of the century. In 1874, Collier provided the photographs for a book entitled “Summering in Colorado”. In addition, a book was published in 1983 focused on displaying Collier’s photos. The book was entitled “The Photography of Joseph Collier. Colorado. 1871-1910”. Some of Collier’s photos can be found at the Getty museum in Los Angeles, California. 

Published in: on January 6, 2025 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF A COUPLE AT “MUSHROOM ROCK” IN “GARDEN OF THE GODS” COLORADO (1908)

This 1908 real photo postcard captures a well dressed couple posing by “Mushroom Rock” which is located in the “Garden of the Gods” in the state of Colorado. The site is specifically situated in Colorado Springs. Garden of the Gods is a public park and was named a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Glaciers and erosion left the land with incredible rock formations. The park was named by two surveyors in 1859. Multiple Native American nations had involvement with the area. In addition to “Mushroom Rock”, tourists have made “Balanced Rock” a popular visitor site. A photograph of “Balanced Rock” can be found elsewhere in the Cabinet Card Gallery (use the search box to find it). The stamp box indicates the card was published between 1904 and 1918, The 1908 date written on the reverse of the postcard fall well within the range of those years.   (SOLD)

Published in: on November 19, 2019 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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PORTRAIT OF TWO VISITORS IN A CONVERTIBLE AT BALANCED ROCK, GARDEN OF THE GODS, COLORADO

This is one of those vintage real photo postcards that one stumbles upon and is compelled to learn more about. The postcard is a wonderful find. The photograph shows a young couple driving a 1920’s (?) car past “Balanced Rock” in the Garden of the Gods. The popular tourist location is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1859, two surveyors who were instrumental in setting up Colorado City, explored the area and one of them decided that it would be a great place for a “beer garden”.  The second surveyor responded to the suggestion stating it would be better to call it “Garden of the Gods” because it was “a fit place for the Gods to assemble”. Many Native American tribes are connected to this area including the Apache, Cheyenne, Comanche, Utes, and Pawnee people. The Garden of the Gods became a National Natural Landmark in 1971. This postcard does an excellent job of providing a portrait of the “Balanced Rock”. The natural geological formation is put in even better perspective by photographing an open car in front of it’s precarious pose. The viewer holds their breath hoping that the auto and it’s two occupants pass by safely. Note that there is a pennant hanging on the side of the car. Printed on the pennant is “Kansas City”, which is likely the home of the lovely couple in the convertible. This postcard was produced by the Paul Goerke studio in Manitou, Colorado. It is printed on Artura paper and was produced between 1908 and 1924 (presumably sometime toward the end of this span). The story of photographer Paul Goerke is quite interesting. In the 1890’s, Goerke purchased the land around Balanced Rock. Goerke and his son, Curt, took photographs of tourists by the rock and sold them for 25 cents apiece. At the beginning of Goerke’s business there was no charge to view Balanced Rock. They made their money by charging for the portraits. Among the props supplied by Goerke, were burros. As personal cameras became readily available, Goerke needed to change his business concept. Curt Goerke built a wooden fence around Balanced Rock and began charging 25 cents admission. He also operated a lunch counter adjacent to nearby “Steamboat Rock” and created picnic areas for the thousand of visitors who came each summer. In 1932 the city of Colorado Springs purchased The Goerke property and tore down the fence.

 

Modern Photo Postcard of Balanced Rock

 

Published in: on May 23, 2017 at 6:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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