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1949 Map of Holy Cross

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Holy Cross
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Camp Hale Military Reservation dominates the high-altitude landscape of this 1949 survey, reflecting the area's vital role in World War II training. Positioned along the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, the facility occupies the Eagle River valley near Pando and Tennessee Pass. To the west, the Sawatch Range rises sharply toward Mt of the Holy Cross, where alpine features like the Bowl of Tears and Seven Sisters Lakes mark the headwaters of Cross Creek.

Mining activity remains a central theme, evidenced by the Matchless Mine and El Capitan Mine, alongside the early settlement of Holy Cross City. The map reveals complex hydraulic engineering and transportation infrastructure, including the Busk-Ivanhoe Tunnel and the Leadville Landing Field. These features, combined with the presence of the Homestake Trout Club, illustrate a transition from a purely extractive economy to one incorporating military utility and mountain recreation.