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1961 Map of Gothic

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Gothic
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The settlement of Gothic sits at the base of the high Elk Mountains, serving as a central point in this early 1960s landscape where mining history meets emerging recreation. The transition from extraction to leisure is visible near the southern boundary, where a Ski Tow and Gondola Lift indicate the early development of the ski industry on the slopes of Crested Butte. The rugged topography is defined by high-altitude peaks like Avery Peak and Teocalli Mountain, with numerous narrow routes such as the Jeep Trail and Pack Trail threading through the basins.

Water management and natural drainage are critical features here, seen in the flow of the East River and Slate River, along with the man-made Verzuh Ditch. For local historians and genealogists, the map preserves the location of a small Cemetery near the riverbanks and identifies specific land use through labels like Mine and Prospect. The map documents a moment when the wild terrain of the Gunnison National Forest was increasingly being navigated for both its mineral potential and its alpine scenery.