1959 Map of Bonanza

About this map

Mining operations dominate this high-altitude landscape where the San Isabel National Forest, Rio Grande National Forest, and Gunnison National Forest converge. The industrial footprint of the Bonanza Mining District is meticulously documented, featuring a dense network of claims such as the Bonanza Mine, Rawley Mine, and Cocomongo Mine. Traces of the silver and lead boom remain at the Sedgwick townsite and Kerber City, while the Old Railroad Grade leading toward Mears Junction reflects the logistical challenges of transporting ore from the peaks. Beyond the extraction sites, the map details the transition from industrial to agricultural and administrative use, noting the Brewery Creek Guard Station and established homesteads like Blanchard Ranch and Shewalter Ranch. The presence of the Cem and multiple mills like the Little Bonanza Mill provides essential data for researchers tracking the movement of early mining families through the Saguache and Chaffee County borderlands.