Embedded Files
100 years of US routes: 1926-2026
US route endpoint in
1926-1958
Several different intersections in Denver mark historic terminus points of US 36, US 285[i], and US 285[ii]. Each of those endpoints are covered on those respective pages, with one exception: historically the intersection of Broadway and Colfax has served as the endpoint of both US 285[i] and US 36. So this page exists in order to cover that particular junction.
US 285[i] was commissioned in late 1926, along with the other inaugural US routes. The US 285 page describes (along with maps) how the route initially came southeast on 14th Street to Colfax Avenue. Colfax carried US 40, but I suspect that US 285 did not end at that intersection. It is more likely that US 285 would have been directed east on Colfax with US 40 for one block (two blocks after a realignment) in order to terminate at a junction with its "parent" route, US 85, which at the time ran along Broadway.
I have not yet found a map or a photograph proving that, but in those days it was common for US routes to be signposted to a prominent intersection in the city (even if it was necessary for them to overlap). And in Denver there was no more obvious location than the intersection of Broadway and Colfax. Here is a 1950 photo that was taken approaching that intersection:
That was looking east on Colfax (or technically southeast along the brief segment where it aligns with 15th Street in order to go around the Voorhies Memorial). As can be seen, at the time drivers had the option of continuing southeast on 15th for another half-block to Broadway, but Colfax itself curved to the left here just before its intersection with Broadway, which by that time was carrying not only US 85 but also US 87.
In 1951 (one year after the above photo was taken) US 36 was truncated by about one mile, such that it terminated at the intersection of Broadway and Colfax. This map was made during that timeframe:
c. 1958, Hotchkiss Map Co.
The rationale behind that change to US 36 is explained on the US 36 page; the following photo was taken just a few years later, and it shows signage at the west beginning of US 36:
c. 1953-1958 (linked to source at Denver Public Library)
(detail)
That was taken looking east from Broadway on Colfax (or east on US 40). About 25 years earlier, that would have marked the south end of US 285. But at the time of the photo, straight ahead on Colfax was the west beginning of US 36 (and the upper right sign noted "TO US 287", which came in on Park Avenue about 16 blocks ahead and joined Colfax). Note that Broadway was carrying not only US 85, but also US 6, which is why US 36 had been extended to that intersection. Next is a modern photo, taken from roughly the same perspective:
Sanderson, Apr. 2024
This shot, looking the opposite direction (west on Colfax) shows the west end of US 36 (from 1951-1958), and also what was most likely the original south beginning of US 285 (1926-1932):
Google Maps Street View, Aug. 2011
That included a sign for US 40, but curiously not for US 287 nor Business I-70. In about 2012 that sign bridge was replaced, and now the signs do not reference any of the highway designations. One block in that direction (historically, but now two blocks), US 285 split off from US 40 to head northwest on 14th (drivers cannot do that anymore, as 14th is one-way southeastbound today).
In 1932, US 285 was changed such that it came into downtown on 20th Street (instead of 14th). It is possible that this intersection still marked the beginning of US 285, except that it would have begun to the right (north on Broadway, diverging from US 85 at 20th). But even if so, that arrangement lasted only until 1933. One last photo to summarize; this was looking north on Broadway approaching Colfax:
Google Maps Street View
From 1926-1932, it is likely that US 285[i] began to the left on Colfax. Then in 1932-1933, it is possible that US 285 began straight ahead on Broadway. And from 1951-1958, the west beginning of US 36 was to the right on Colfax.
Research and/or image credits: Dale Sanderson
Page originally created 1999;last updated Sep. 3, 2025.
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