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1916 Map of Creede

Name: 1916 Topographic Map of Creede
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

Creede and its surrounding silver mining district dominate this 1913–1914 survey, which highlights the intense industrial activity and settlement patterns in Mineral County. The map documents the high-altitude development of Bachelor and North Creede, where the complex infrastructure of the Bachelor Tunnel and Nelson Tunnel once tapped into rich mineral veins. The high-country terrain is defined by the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Rio Grande, showing the early 20th-century landscape before modern forest management altered these basins.

Along the lower valleys, the map captures the transition from mining to early tourism and ranching, featuring the Hot Springs Hotel at Wagonwheel Gap and the Wheeler National Monument. Remote outposts like Spar City and the Pfeiffer School near Granger illustrate the isolation of early Colorado settlements. The presence of multiple ranger stations, such as Alder Ranger Sta, reflects the active administration of the Gunnison National Forest, Rio Grande National Forest, and San Juan National Forest.