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1959 Map of Creede

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Creede
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Mining history dominates this high-altitude landscape along the upper Rio Grande as mapped in 1959. The silver-mining legacy is etched into the steep terrain north of Creede, where deep-cut canyons hold legendary claims including the Amethyst Mine, Holy Moses Mine, and Commodore Mine. The settlement of North Creede sits tucked between Mammoth Mountain and Bulldog Mtn, illustrating the era's concentrated industrial development in the narrow gulches. An early aviation presence is noted at the Creede Airstrip, while the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad tracks follow the river's path, connecting the remote district to broader markets.

Agricultural and community life appear south of the town center, centered on the Wason Ranch and Phipps Ranch. Traces of the frontier era persist through features like the Historical Cem and the Fremont Sch No 1, which served the ranching families near Wagon Wheel Gap. The rugged geography is defined by the Continental Divide and the peaks of the La Garita Mountains, which separate the Rio Grande National Forest from the Gunnison National Forest to the north.