Near Leadville in Eagle County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Tennessee Pass

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025

1. Tennessee Pass Marker

Inscription. Across Continental Divide between Arkansas and Eagle Rivers
Altitude 10,424 feet
Named from the Tennessee Fork of the Arkansas
Explored by Fremont and Kit Carson 1845
Railroad constructed 1881
———
This memorial is the property of the State of Colorado
———
Erected by the State Historical Society of Colorado
from the Mrs. J. N. Hall Foundation
and by the State Highway Department
and the U.S. Forest Service
1929

Erected 1929 by State Historical Society of Colorado.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the History Colorado series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 39° 21.739′ N, 106° 18.646′ W. Marker is near Leadville, Colorado, in Eagle County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 24 and Tennessee Pass Road, on the right when traveling north on U.S. 24. The marker is located at the Tennessee Pass summit, just a few meters inside the Eagle County line. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Leadville CO 80461, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Colorado High Rockies. It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Tennessee Pass (here, next to this marker);

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A History of the 10th Mountain Division (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named A History of the 10th Mountain Division (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named A History of the 10th Mountain Division (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named A History of the 10th Mountain Division (within shouting distance of this marker); Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) NORSO (Rype Group) Special Force (within shouting distance of this marker); The Norwegian Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); Norwegian Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leadville.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Exploration in Northwestern Colorado (National Park Service).

Excerpt: In 1845 Frémont was commissioned to explore Colorado in preparation for possible war with Mexico. Relations between the United States and Mexico
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025

2. Tennessee Pass Marker
had been poor since the proposed annexation of Texas. Some popular sentiment in the nation demanded war. The Army was aware of this and tried to prepare; they needed routes for invasion and sent out Frémont to find them. His third expedition was for military purposes only.
This third expedition was guided by Kit Carson, and took Frémont up the Arkansas River to Tennessee Pass over which his party crossed into the Grand (Colorado) River Valley. They then turned north and reached the White River. From here they marched west down the White River until they joined the Green River. From the Green, they moved west across Utah and Nevada into California.

(Submitted on August 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Tennessee Pass (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The pass traverses the Continental Divide north of Leadville in a gap between the northern end of the Sawatch Range to the west and the northern end of the Mosquito Range to the east. It connects the headwaters of the Arkansas River to the south with the upper valley of the Eagle River (in the watershed of the Colorado River) to the north.
The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad constructed a narrow gauge railroad over Tennessee Pass in 1881, first as a branch line to access mines near
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025

3. US Department of Agriculture Shield
(mounted just below the historical marker)
US Department of Agriculture
———
Bureau of Public Roads
Red Cliff, but by the mid 1880s the line became part of its extension to the Aspen area constructed in order to beat the Colorado Midland's standard gauge route to the rich mining area.

(Submitted on August 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025

4. Tennessee Pass Marker

Looking east from US Highway 24; Tennessee Pass Road is on the right.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 27, 2025

5. Tennessee Pass Marker

Looking north across the Tennessee Pass summit, along US Highway 24, into Eagle County. The marker is on the right. It is a few meters inside Eagle County.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 104 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 13, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.