This menu cover features a beautiful cover photo, probably taken several years before by William Henry Jackson, of the Grand River (now called the Colorado River; I’m pretty sure the photo was taken in Glenwood Canyon) with a locomotive and rail car that was provided to the photographer by the railroad. But this menu’s configuration is different from more modern menus in that this photo is on the back cover while the front cover is lunch menu itself.

Click image to download an 758-KB PDF of this menu.

Inside, the left panel is another photo showing a train in the Royal Gorge while the right panel is a wine list. This photo is marked “The Carlson-Harper CO. Eng.” where “Eng.” is short for engravers. Carlson-Harper was a Denver company that published books, souvenir picture booklets, postcards, and other tourist items. The placement of this mark suggests that Carlson-Harper provided the photo, but it may have also printed the menu itself.

The menu includes prime rib or spring lamb for 50¢, veal cutlet for 40¢, half a chicken for 60¢ or a whole one for $1, and baked macaroni and cheese for 20¢. Since this was an a la carte menu, a complete meal including soup, salad, bread, potato, vegetable, beverage, and dessert could cost well over $1.50. Convert to today’s money by multiplying by 40, which could make a complete lunch cost more than $60.