1959 Map of Creede

About this map

The mining legacies of Mineral County are clearly delineated in this late 1950s survey of the Creede district. The high-altitude landscape is dominated by the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad, which follows the curve of the Rio Grande through Wagon Wheel Gap toward the silver-rich gulches. To the north, the terrain rises sharply into the La Garita Mountains, where a dense concentration of industrial sites like the Amethyst Mine, Commodore Mine, and Solomon Mine mark the history of the San Juan Mountains silver boom. Evidence of early settlement remains at the Historical Cem and North Creede, while local infrastructure is represented by the Fremont Sch No 1 and the Fish Hatchery. The map captures the area as it transitioned from an active mining powerhouse to a gateway for the Rio Grande National Forest.