1963 Map of Hesperus

About this map

The La Plata River cuts through this high-altitude landscape in the mid-1960s, serving as a corridor for settlement and industry between the San Juan Mountains and the lower plateaus. The town of Hesperus sits as a central hub, flanked by the Hesperus Cem and the Hesperus Ski Center. Further north, the settlement of Mayday marks the entrance to a canyon rich with mining history, including the Snowslide Mine and Bay City Mine. Evidence of past infrastructure is visible in the Old Railroad Grade winding through the western hills near Cherry Creek. The map documents a rugged economy transitioning from resource extraction to recreation, with numerous named coal and precious metal mines like the Coal King Mine and Pioneer Mine scattered near irrigation works such as the Big Stick Ditch and La Plata Ditch.