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1955 Map of Ironton

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Ironton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The Million Dollar Highway winds through the high San Juan Mountains in this mid-century survey, linking the mining districts between Ouray and Silverton. The landscape is dominated by the massive Red Mountain complex, including Red Mountain No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, where an intense concentration of industrial activity is evident. Settlements like Ironton, Guston, and Gladstone serve as hubs for a network of operations including the Idarado Mine, Treasury Tunnel, and Gold King Mine.

A notable historical detail in the margin records that land lines were omitted from this quadrangle due to alleged fraud or defects in the original surveys, reflecting the complex legal history of these mineral-rich claims. Beyond the heavy industry at the Saratoga Smelter, the map tracks the high-altitude topography of Imogene Pass and Richmond Pass, where pack trails and jeep trails provide the only access to remote basins like Porphyry Basin and Minnehaha Basin.