1950 Map of Burro Peak

About this map

Burro Mountains mining activity and ranching life define this high-altitude landscape in the mid-20th century. Centered on Burro Peak, the terrain is marked by numerous extraction sites such as the Star Lode Mine and the Silver Dollar Mine, while others like the Red Hill Turquoise Mine and Austin-Amazon Mines are recorded as inactive by the time of this 1950 field check. The Continental Divide weaves through the eastern portion of the sheet, separating drainage basins and dictating the flow of seasonal waters through Pine Canyon and Deadman Canyon. Evidence of human settlement is found in isolated pockets of industry and agriculture, including the Merry Widow Shaft and family-run operations like the Silsby Ranch and Walking X Ranch. This corner of the Gila National Forest highlights the intersection of mineral prospecting and the hard-scrabble ranching economy of southwestern New Mexico.