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1955 Map of Howardsville

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Howardsville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

The Animas River corridor near Howardsville reveals a landscape defined by intensive silver and gold extraction during the mid-20th century. High-altitude mining operations such as the Old Hundred Mine and Silver Lake Mine are documented alongside specialized infrastructure like the Pride of the West Mill. The terrain is marked by steep basins and gulches, including Arrastra Basin and Cataract Gulch, which served as the primary conduits for ore transport and water management.

Traversing the Continental Divide, the survey captures the headwaters of the Rio Grande and the high passes used by early prospectors, notably Stony Pass. While many sites were becoming inactive by this era, the presence of the Osceola Mine and Pride of the West Mine indicates ongoing industrial activity. Remote features like the Cem near the river and the Highland Mary Lakes provide critical points of reference for genealogists and researchers tracking the settlement patterns of this isolated mining district.