All Denver Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. More Information.

The biggest snowstorm in Denver history, 1913

With a total over 40 inches the snowstorm of 1913 is the largest snowstorm in recorded history in Denver. According to the Rocky Mountain News the totals were 45 inches of snow, or 4.18 inches of water, or 38,887,619,004 pounds of water.

View of a heavy snowfall on Sixth (6th, Alpine) Street in Georgetown, Colorado. The Spruance Building and Kneisel-Curtis-Seifeld building are on the south side of the street. Five men ride large horses; five men stand (wearing heavy coats and hats) surrounded by piles of snow.

View of a nude woman sculpted from snow during the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado.

Pedestrians trudge through snow on Welton and Sixteenth (16th) streets in the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado. Shows a Denver City Tramway trolley car and snow-laden electrical wires, lamp posts and buildings. The Daniels and Fisher building is in the distance.

Pedestrians, horse drawn wagons and sleighs make their way through a snow filled Cheyenne Street, Denver, Colorado. The Y. M. C. A. and Plymouth Hotel show in background. Signs read: "Fry and McHill," "Baker Electrics?" "Ford Motor Company," and "The Wilson Auto Co."

Men shovel and haul soot covered snow and ice from a downtown street, Denver, Colorado. Lettering painted on a brick building reads: Court Place Hotel.

A street car makes its way along 17th (Seventeenth) Avenue, Denver, Colorado. Snow has been cleared and piled high on sides of streets. Landmark buildings include the Albany Hotel and the 1892 Equitable Building.

A young boy poses in front of a tall snowman next to a snowcovered post, downtown Denver, Colorado. Snow piles have American flags stuck in them for decoration. The sidewalks are cleared, while the street shows deep snow heavily tracked. Signs read: "Clarke's Restaurant" and "Tom Moore, Cigar 10 cents, Little Tom 5 cents."

View along a snow shoveled walkway next to the Indian and buffalo bronze sculpture, "Closing era", on the back side of the State Capitol Building, Denver, Colorado. A small sign is barely visible above the deep snow, it reads:"Keep off the grass".

View of deep snow from Cheyenne Street towards Pioneer Monument and the State Capitol Building, Denver, Colorado. A workman repairs wires on a power and streetlight pole. The Scholtz Drug Company is on the corner; trolley cars and the United Presbyterian Church shows in background.

View from corner in front of the Brown Palace north along Broadway, Denver, Colorado, includes piles of snow on streets, the Hotel Metropole and the Trinity Church. Sign painted on side of hotel reads: "Hotel Metropole American and European Plan, Absolutely Fire Proof."

Snowy view along 17th (Seventeenth) Avenue to Broadway Avenue, Denver, Colorado, includes pedestrians on cleared walkways, horse drawn carriages in distance and a house on the estate of Mrs. H. A. W. Tabor in foreground.

A man hauls his wagon load of snow past the Pioneer Monument on Cheyenne Street towards Civic Center, Denver, Colorado. The Scholtz Drug Company, Capitol Store, the State Capitol Building and the First United Presbyterian Church show in distance.

Pedestrians, a man carrying skis, horse drawn wagons and street cars number 92 and 75 make their way through deep snow on Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado. The Argonaut Hotel and the Immaculate Conception Cathedral show in distance.

View of Blake Street in Denver, Colorado; shows snow piles and a sign: "Dillon Iron Works."

Men in Civic Center unload snow laden horse-drawn wagons after the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado. Shows pedestrians on the sidewalk, the Arapahoe County Courthouse building and the Majestic Hotel are in the distance. A sign reads, "Oil and Gas (?) 500,000 Population for Denver, the Colorado Producers Oil Company."

Fire fighters stand on snow bank in Denver, Colorado; Laurence E. Burns, 4th from left.

A man skis in a downtown Denver street in the snowstorm of 1913 in Colorado. Shows pedestrians in the snow packed street.

A snowman wears a hat as it sits in the driver's seat of probably a Model T Ford after the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado. Pedestrians walk down sidewalk near piles of snow.

View of snow piles on street after the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado. Shows a Denver Tramway trolley car number "307" and hitching posts. A sign on a building reads, "Drug Store."

A woman stands in a snow drift from the great snowstorm of 1913 on Clarkson Street in Denver, Colorado. Shows a fur muffler, a possibly Persian lamb's wool coat with fur trim, leather pocketbook and wool hat.

Two men walk on the sidewalk in front of the State Capitol Building cleared of deep snow from the December 1913 storm, Denver, Colorado.

A man and two boys pose with snowballs in a snow drift for a man with a camera after the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado.

A line of men with shovels and pickaxes work to remove snow after the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado.

A snow covered Denver City Tramway trolley car is stuck in the snowstorm of 1913 in central Denver, Colorado. Signs on a building read, ""Oriental Rugs," and "Store Room For Rent, 20 x 40 ft." A man makes a large snowball.

View of signs stuck in a snow pile from the 1913 blizzard in Denver, Colorado. Signs read, "This pile of snow free to day help yourself plenty in stock," "Keep Off the Grass," "It's a Privilige [sic] To Live in Colorado."

Comic Strip of Prodigal's Return

Comic strip of Beautiful Shovel

View of a stuffed animal posed beside a snowman with a hat on in the snowstorm of 1913 in Denver, Colorado. A sign reads, "December Morn."