Postcards and photographic material created by photographer John Albert Topolnicki Sr. featuring the Colorado natural landscape, mountains, abandoned mine sites, ski areas and similar subjects. His photographs are considered the best historical record of Breckenridge Ski Resort and Summit County, Colorado landscapes in the early 1960s-1970s.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Areas in and around Breckenridge, Colorado. Includes Sallie Barber Mine, Wellington Mine Ore Bin, Jessie Mine, and other abandoned mining structures and log cabins. Also, views from Boreas Pass of the Breckenridge ski area and Tenmile Range, Main Street buildings, and a few images of Ullr Dag winter festival events. Most feature the base area of Peak 8 and skiers on ski runs. Others are of mountain landscapes and Lake Dillon (Dillon Reservoir).
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Portrait of John Albert Topolnicki Sr. wearing skis on a snowy slope, probably at Breckenridge ski area in Breckenridge, Colorado. Topolnicki was an avid outdoor photographer and Breckenridge resident from 1962-1972. His photographs are considered the best historical record of Breckenridge and Summit County ski areas in the early 1960s.
Topolnicki Sr., John A."Ski Photography Shoppe" on Main Street in Breckenridge, Colorado. Owner John A. Topolnicki, Sr. photographed Colorado backcountry scenes, abandoned mine sites and views of early Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Steamboat Springs ski resorts. He turned his photographs into postcards and posters for sale to tourists.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Ullr Dag Festival parade on Main Street, Breckenridge, circa mid-1960s. Larry Raff, Festival King, and Dawn Denzer, Festival Queen, sit up on the backseat of a convertible and wave at spectators crowding the sidewalks. Businesses on the west side of Main Street include a Standard gas station, the Edwin Booth opera house (pink and yellow building), Liar's Den (a fishing shop), the Gasthaus (Hungarian food restaurant and bar), and Barney's Hotelery.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Automobile tracks in the deep snow on Boreas Pass Road, with a view of Peak 8 in the background. The road follows the old narrow gauge railroad bed from Como in Park County to Breckenridge.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.View looking south on snowy Main Street in Breckenridge. In the right foreground is the National Saloon building, built in 1862.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.An automobile drives south to Breckenridge along the Blue River on Colorado State Highway 9.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Looking west across a snow-covered landscape with a view of Peak 2 (Tenmile Peak) and Peak 1 of the Tenmile Range in Colorado.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Snowy landscape at sunset with a view (from left to right) of Peak 2 (known as Tenmile Peak), Peak 1, Mount Victoria and Mount Royal of the Tenmile Range in Colorado.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Remains of the ore bin at the Sallie Barber Mine site located in French Gulch on Barney Ford Hill, east of Breckenridge, Colorado. Scattered among the site are logs, rusted sheet metal and abandoned mining equipment.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Abandoned log cabin and mill at the Senator Mine site in Monte Cristo Gulch, south of Breckenridge, Colorado.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Remains of the ore bin and log cribbing at the Wellington-Oro Mine site, located in French Gulch east of Breckenridge, Colorado. The ore bin sits on the huge mine dump of the Extenuate (X10U8) and Brown tunnels.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Blue Lake, a high alpine lake on the north side of Quandary Peak. Wheeler Mountain and Fletcher Mountain are visible in the distance. South of Breckenridge, Colorado.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.View of the town of Breckenridge and snow-covered dredge piles left behind by gold dredging operations. Looking east from Shock Hill, with Bald Mountain in the background.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.A section of the Swan River, northeast of Breckenridge, Colorado, with a view of the Tenmile Range.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Abandoned mine structures at the Jessie Mine and Mill site in Gold Run Gulch north of Breckenridge, Colorado. The Jessie operated from 1885 into the 1930s and was one of the largest gold, silver and lead mine and mill complexes in the Breckenridge area.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Skiers slide down the slopes to the Bergenhof Bar and Restaurant. The restaurant opened the day before the first official opening of the Breckenridge ski area on December 16, with a party to mark the start of the 1961 season. It was one of three original buildings that made up the Peak 8 base area facilities. It was demolished in 2013.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Skiers gather at Peak 8 base area and the Bergenhof Bar and Restaurant. Chairlift 1 in the background. At Breckenridge ski resort in Colorado.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Skiers in line for the chairlifts at the Peak 8 base area of the Breckenridge ski resort. In the foreground is the ski area's original lift, a Heron Double chairlift, named Chairlift 1. Next is a platter pull type lift, Poma 1 (also called B-100). In the background is Chairlift 5. Chairlift 5 was installed for the 1970-1971 season and was considered the fastest lift at the resort at that time.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.