Loading map...

1949 Map of Holy Cross

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Holy Cross
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The military reservation at Camp Hale dominates the Eagle River valley in this high-altitude survey, reflecting the area's strategic importance during the mid-20th century. Situated near Pando, the installation was established to train specialized mountain troops, a function suited to the nearby Tennessee Pass and the steep slopes of the Gore Range. To the south, the city of Leadville serves as the industrial and transportation anchor, where the Denver and Rio Grande Western RR navigates the complex terrain to reach active operations like the Matchless Mine.

The landscape is marked by legacy mining settlements and remote peaks, including the iconic Mt of the Holy Cross and its neighboring Bowl of Tears. Local history and genealogy are preserved in the locations of Holy Cross City and Gold Park, as well as the Evergreen Cem on the outskirts of Leadville. High mountain lakes like Lake Constantine and Whitney Lake sit in the shadows of Homestake Peak, illustrating the hydrological headwaters that define the White River National Forest.