1957 Map of Fraser

About this map

The Fraser River valley serves as a critical corridor for transportation and water management in the late 1950s. The Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad tracks parallel the river, leading south toward the engineering feat of the Moffat Tunnel at West Portal. This area reflects the mid-century growth of mountain recreation and infrastructure, with Winter Park and Hideaway Park established along the valley floor. To the north, Tabernash and Fraser represent older settlement hubs supported by the rail line. The surrounding Arapaho National Forest is heavily marked by water diversion systems, including the Big Six Ditch and various aqueducts that trace the contours of the high terrain, demonstrating the complex efforts to capture and redirect snowmelt from the western slope.