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1952 Map of Anvil Points

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Anvil Points
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Industrial energy development takes center stage in this 1952 topographic study of the Roan Plateau and the Shale Reserve. The landscape is dominated by the Bureau of Mines Oil Shale Experiment Station and the Anvil Points Oil Shale Mines, supported by specialized infrastructure like a Tank Farm, Water Tanks, and a Pump House. These features reflect a mid-century period of intense experimentation in fuel extraction from the massive shale deposits that define this Garfield County terrain.

Deep canyons and drainage systems like Parachute Creek and Cottonwood Gulch cut through the high plateaus, while small residential and operational clusters such as Glover Park and Anvil Points provide a glimpse into the localized living conditions of mining personnel. Notable family-named landmarks and inactive sites, including the Rulison Oil Shale Mine (Inactive) and Webster Hill, allow researchers to trace the shifting footprint of the region's extractive history.