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1957 Map of Idaho Springs

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Idaho Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Idaho Springs serves as the focal point of this late-1950s survey, situated where Clear Creek meets the mouth of Chicago Creek. The landscape is a dense network of mining heritage, characterized by dozens of named shafts, tunnels, and mills that defined the region's extraction era. Notable operations include the Phoenix Mine, Lamartine Mine, and the Colo School of Mines Experimental Mine, which illustrate the industrial depth of the Front Range.

Away from the industrial activity of the gulches, the map reveals a mid-century shift toward recreation and scientific research. High-altitude sites such as the Inter-University High Altitude Lab near Echo Lake Park and youth retreats like Camp Wilaha (Girls Camp) and Camp Shwayder occupy the higher elevations. The topography rises sharply toward Goliath Peak and Chief Mountain, with the winding Squaw Pass Road providing access to the high country of the Arapaho National Forest.