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1959 Map of Electric Peak

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Electric Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains dominate this 1959 survey, marking the high-altitude divide between Saguache and Custer counties. This landscape is defined by the sharp contrast between the jagged peaks of Electric Peak and Spread Eagle Peak and the ranching settlements of Prairie Valley to the east. The map records several early 20th-century family landmarks, including the King Homestead and Hutchinson Homestead, reflecting the area's transition from frontier settlement to established ranching communities like San Isabel Ranch.

Transport history is visible in the Old Railroad Grade and high-mountain routes like Hermit Pass. Recreation and conservation efforts are evident in the borders of the Rio Grande National Forest and San Isabel National Forest, where features such as Venable Falls and numerous alpine lakes like Rainbow Lake and Macey Lake draw the eye. Local community sites, such as the Ula Cem and the small enclave at The Pines, ground the rugged terrain in its human history.