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1934 Map of Colorado National Monument

Name: 1934 Topographic Map of Colorado National Monument
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1934
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1934

About this map

Park Headquarters serves as the focal point for this 1934 topographic study of the Colorado National Monument. Surveyed by W.S. Higginson, the map meticulously documents the transition of this arid landscape into a managed federal preserve. The intricate contour work reveals a labyrinth of geological formations, including the sheer walls of No Thoroughfare Canyon and distinct monoliths like the Independence Monument and the Kissing Couple.

Transport through this vertical environment is defined by the winding Serpents Trail, a feat of early engineering that navigated the steep ascents near Cold Shivers Point. Beyond the central monuments, the survey captures named heights such as Liberty Cap and the Coke Ovens, providing a precise record of the monument's boundaries and topographical character during the early years of the National Park Service's presence in Mesa County.