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1898 Map of Engineer Mountain

Name: 1898 Topographic Map of Engineer Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Engineer Mountain and the high ridges of the San Juan National Forest dominate this landscape, surveyed just before the turn of the century. The map highlights the early infrastructure of the San Juan Mountains, including the Denver and Rio Grande (Silverton Line) as it follows the Animas River corridor. Industrial development is evident at the southern edge of the sheet, where Tacoma and its Power Houses utilize the waters of Electra Lake for energy production.

Legacy transport routes are well-documented, showing the Old Tollgate and the Butler Trail cutting through the peaks. Scattered ranching and early alpine settlements are noted by markers like Hamor's Ranch near Columbine Lake and the open meadows of Hermosa Park. This geography reveals a moment when the region's economy was shifting from difficult mountain passage toward hydroelectric development and fixed rail transit.