1958 Map of Empire

About this map

Mining history and high-altitude recreation intersect along the Continental Divide in the late 1950s. The settlement of Empire sits at the junction of mountain travel routes, supported by the Empire Guard Station and the Rainbow Rancho Fish Hatchery. To the east, the village of Lawson is surrounded by evidence of the area's extraction economy, including the Bellevue Hudson Tunnel, Boulder Nest Mine, and Free American Mine. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the West Fork Clear Creek valley to peaks like James Peak and Mt Bancroft. Notable community sites include the Alvarado Cem and the Easter Seal Handicamp, while high-country destinations like St Marys Glacier Lodge and Loch Lomond reflect the growing draw of the Arapaho National Forest for visitors and residents alike.