1957 Map of Cerro Summit

About this map

Lujane (Site) and Cedar Creek (Site) mark the former footprints of rail-side settlements in this high-altitude landscape of Montrose County. In the late 1950s, the terrain is defined by complex water management and transportation engineering, centered on the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad and its winding route through the canyons. The presence of the Old Hairpin Railroad Grade and the Portal Tunnel illustrates the extreme measures required to navigate the area's steep transitions, while infrastructure like the Microwave Relay Station at Cerro Summit reflects the era's technological advancement. Irrigation is prominent, with the South Canal and Vernal Mesa Ditch carving through the slopes of Poverty Mesa and Upper Bostwick Park, supporting the agricultural needs of the high valley. This survey captures a specific intersection of early mountain rail history and the mid-century expansion of public utilities.