Alva B. Adams Tunnel | Estes Park Museum

1980.011.001 - Bit, Drill

Miner's steel drill bit (used by donor to punch the last of the hole through rock on the Alva B. Adams tunnel - "holing through"). 2" (5.2 cm) bit that is threaded at base to screw onto drill shaft. There are four cutting flange edges which extend out at 90 degrees from each other. The threading extends an inch up into shaft - for the last inch up the opening is only 3/8" (1.1 cm). Used during building of Alva B. Adams Tunnel.

Record Type: Object

1981.110.001 - Hat, Hard

Oval heavy aluminum hat. Has yellow plastic attachment on front for carbide lamp. On back brim is a leather strap which snaps into a small circle. Round grooved top with metal brim. Inside are six riveted holders for leather straps which hold the lining and keep the hat from contact with head. Leather sweatband. Marks: Scratched inside hat: "Elmer Bilyeu." Belonged to Elmer Bilyeu, who wore it working on Adams Tunnel. Stamped into inside brim...

Record Type: Object

1981.110.002 - Hat, Hard

Hood type liner made of tan cotton twill with knitted wool liner. Hood liner made in 4 sections. Edges are bound with green cotton binding which ties at chin. Six slits which correspond to 6 holders inside hard hat so that liner can be attached inside hat during cold weather. Marks: tag reads "Safety from Head to Foot" "B.F. McDonald Co./ Los Angeles, Calif." Red print on white background

Record Type: Object

1981.110.003 - Wire, Electric

Coil of detonator wire used in the construction of the Alva B. Adams tunnel. Thin copper wire with a natural color waxed string covering. Belonged to Elmer Bilyeu who used it while working on the Adams Tunnel.

Record Type: Object

1981.114.001 - Plaque

Rock on which is mounted: Rectangular bronze plaque with raised edge and letters. Back has 4 prongs with bolts at the end to attach plaque to the holing through rock. Marks: Top has mountains with tunnel beneath. Below tunnel is "1940-1941/1942 43/1944/1943/1942 /1941/1940" and Platt Robers 1.25 miles/ Stiers Bros Constr Co. 3.64 Miles/ S.S. Magoffin Company 8.14 miles "Alva B. Adams Tunnel/ This rock Blasted by / Sinclair Ollason Harper/...

Record Type: Object

1981.114.002 - Plaque

Rectangular bronze plaque with raised edge and letters. Back has 4 prongs with bolts at the end to attach plaque to the holing through rock (1981.114.001) Marks: Top has mountains with tunnel beneath. Below tunnel is "1940-1941/1942 43/1944/1943/1942 /1941/1940" and Platt Robers 1.25 miles/ Stiers Bros Constr Co. 3.64 Miles/ S.S. Magoffin Company 8.14 miles "Alva B. Adams Tunnel/ This rock Blasted by / Sinclair Ollason Harper/ Chief Engin...

Record Type: Object

1986.044.001 - Bottle, Vacuum

Pint thermos - tin outer covering with glass thermos lining. Gray color with white and gold spirals going up sides. The top is white plastic with pouring spout into which the rubber stopper fits. The stopper has one side which extends for lifting. The cup screws onto the top and can be used as a cup. On bottom: "landers Frary and Clark/Universal/Filler No. 01/Article No. 2680B/New Britain, Conn./Made in U.S.A. also a pink "E + B" on base an...

Record Type: Object

1994.019.001A - galvanometer, blasting

Silver, square galvanometer with measuring scale and indicator on front seen through a plastic window, maroon warning label on reverse, 2 metal knobs protrude from top "A6205" stamped onto warnig label on reverse donor used ths galvanometer on the Big Thompson Project in building the Alva B. Adams Tunnel

Record Type: Object

1994.019.001B - Case

black leather case to hold galvanometer, brass color sways and plaque on front, brass colored snap and rivet on reverse, leather strap with buckle riveted to left and right sides of case, dividing strap in half, top flap extends down to snap shut over a window cut in the front of the leather for ease of reading the galvanometer, small leather strap snaps shut across the galvanometer to prevent it from falling out from the top when the top case fl...

Record Type: Object

2013.021.208

Busch, Mel

Record Type: Library

2015.FIC.095 - Audiocassette

audio recording, Paul Van Horn, The Alva B. Adams Tunnel

Record Type: Object

2015.FIC.096 - Audiocassette

audio recording, Paul Van Horn, Colorado Big Thompson program at Fort Collins Museum

Record Type: Object

2015.FIC.097 - Audiocassette

audio recording, Paul Van Horn, Byron Graves, Dick Montgomery, Bob Harper, and Bob Dike identifying S.S. Magoffins slides of construction of Alva B. Adams tunnel

Record Type: Object

2017.038.003 - Print, Photographic

Small image taken at the opening & dedication of the Alva B. Adams tunnel, part of the Colorado Big Thompson Project carried out by the Bureau of Reclamation. Image shows the tunnel with a hillside in the background and was taken on a Kodak Brownie camera by the donor.

Record Type: Photo

2017.038.004 - Print, Photographic

Small image taken at the opening & dedication fo the Alva B. Adams tunnel, part of the Colorado Big Thompson Project carried out by the Bureau of Reclamation. Image shows the opening of the tunnel with mountains in the background and was taken on a Kodak Brownie camera by the donor.

Record Type: Photo