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1893 Map of Aspen

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Aspen
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The silver mining boom of the late nineteenth century is the central focus of this survey, which documents Aspen at its peak of industrial activity before the silver crash. The town is situated at the confluence of Hunter Creek and the Roaring Fork, served by two major rail lines: the Denver and Rio Grande R.R. (Aspen Br.) and the A. T. and S. F. R. R. (Colorado Midland Div.). This network of iron and steam connected the remote mountain district to global markets.

Mining operations like the Molly Gibson Mine and Park Regent Mine cluster near the town center, while peripheral settlements such as Highlands and Ashcroft illustrate the dispersal of laborers and prospectors through the high-elevation basins. Landmark peaks including Maroon Peak and Castle Peak rise above the drainage of Castle Creek and Maroon Creek, showing the relationship between the dramatic topography and the Holden Works processing facility on the outskirts of town.