1954 Map of Durango

About this map

The San Juan Mountains and the Continental Divide dominate this mid-century view of southwestern Colorado, where the high-altitude mining legacy of Silverton, Telluride, and Rico is clearly mapped. The rugged terrain is bisected by the Denver and Rio Grande Western RR, which follows narrow river valleys to reach remote outposts. In the south, the landscape transitions from the jagged Needle Mountains into the lands of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation. The presence of the Vallecito Reservoir and the extensive network of the Rio Grande National Forest highlights the importance of water management and federal land stewardship in the post-war West. Small rural landmarks like Bronson School and Carmel School provide granular detail for local historians, while the confluence of the Animas River and San Juan River defines the southern drainage patterns toward New Mexico.