1949 Map of Calamity Mesa

About this map

The Uncompahgre National Forest dominates the landscape of this 1949 topographic study, conducted in part for the Atomic Energy Commission. The terrain is a complex system of elevated flats and deep drainage, defined by the sheer walls of Calamity Mesa and Outlaw Mesa. This era was marked by intense mineral prospecting in the Colorado plateau, reflected here by the concentration of uranium and vanadium operations such as the Hidden Treasure Mine, Small Spot Mine, and the more extensive Blue Creek Mines. The map records temporary industrial settlements including Calamity Camp and Outlaw Camp, which served the workforce in this isolated canyon country. Deep incisions from Blue Creek and Calamity Creek carve through the plateau, isolating landforms like Potato Mountain and Triangle Mesa.