1951 Map of Cripple Creek South

About this map

The high-elevation gold mining district of Colorado is captured here in 1951, showing the dense industrial network surrounding Cripple Creek and Victor. This landscape is defined by the subterranean economy, with the massive Carlton Tunnel and Roosevelt Tunnel cutting beneath the peaks of Squaw Mountain and Grouse Mountain. The map reveals the proximity of numerous independent mining operations, including the Golden Cycle Mine, Cresson Mine, and Stratton Mine, which once made this region one of the most productive gold fields in the world. Settlements like Altman, Elkton, and Goldfield are shown in their post-war state, while the rugged drainage systems of Poverty Gulch and Arequa Gulch provide the topographic context for the district's development. Local history is further grounded by the inclusion of the Mt Pisgah Cemetery and Victor Cem, documenting the human toll of the era's intensive hard-rock mining.