Name/Title
1923 circa - Rock Island Is the Colorado Way to Yellowstone / Rock Island Line / Designer unknownDescription
Rock Island Lines, formally known as the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, was a late comer to promoting Yellowstone as a travel destination. In 1921, “The Rock” began a marketing campaign which claimed the best way to see Yellowstone was to ride their line to Denver or Colorado Springs, then transfer to another railroad line for the final leg for the trip. The ploy must have met with few takers; by 1930, the Yellowstone promotion ceased to be seen in the marketplace.
The poster pictured of this 1921-1929 Rock Island promotional effort. The poster is neither signed nor dated and lacks the name of the printer, providing little historical context for the piece. In the image though, one can see a Moen-esque approach, reflecting an energized landscape but, unlike Moen, lacking animation by those watching the world’s most celebrated geyser erupt before them. In fact, the mother of the group in the foreground is looking the other way; the only one who seems to be moved is the youngest child who has his arm lifted, giving a friendly wave to Old Faithful.
The art of the two brochures also is less energetic than Moen in approach, having a tone of calm and relaxation. The “Colorado Way” brochure is a near-replica of the poster. The other brochure, “Summer Outings”, depicts a couple relaxing by a mountain lake. In this case, the cover bears the name Frank J. Forstneger (1897-1975), a Chicago commercial artist known for his magazine cover and book illustrations.Create Date
June 1, 2026Update Date
June 2, 2026
