1956 Map of Curecanti Needle

About this map

The Curecanti Needle stands as a prominent landmark along the Gunnison River in this mid-century topographic study, which documents the landscape just before significant Bureau of Reclamation water projects altered the river's character. The deep gorge of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison dominates the central terrain, bordered by the Gunnison National Forest. Evidence of early cattle ranching and remote settlement is scattered across the mesas and gulches, including the McLeod Ranch and Knott Ranch, while the Rimrock Sch (Aband) reflects the shifting population of this isolated Colorado region. The map captures a transition toward modern infrastructure with the appearance of a Microwave Relay Sta and a Gaging Sta along the water, even as much of the area remains accessible only by a primitive Jeep Trail.