1955 Map of Handies Peak

About this map

The high-altitude mining landscape of the San Juan Mountains is captured here during a 1955 field check, showing the late-stage footprint of legendary Colorado silver and gold districts. Settlements that once bustled with activity, including Animas Forks (Aband) and Mineral Point (Aband), are noted as abandoned, their street grids giving way to alpine trails. The sheer concentration of industrial remnants is evident through the labeling of the Sunnyside Mine, Old Lout Mine, and Treasure Mtn Mine. High mountain crossings like Engineer Pass and Cinnamon Pass serve as the primary conduits through the terrain, connecting deep glacial valleys such as California Gulch and American Basin. The map also details the headwaters of the Animas River near the site of Eureka (Aband), providing a meticulous record of the relationship between 19th-century resource extraction and the formidable topography of the San Juan National Forest.