1955 Map of Ironton

About this map

Ironton and the high-altitude mining settlements of the San Juan Mountains are documented here during the mid-1950s, a period after the peak silver boom but while many major operations remained active. The landscape is defined by the industrial infrastructure of the era, from the sprawling Camp Bird complex and its various levels—such as No 14 Level and No 2 Level—to the numerous tunnels like Koehler Tunnel and Treasury Tunnel that pierced the surrounding peaks. A unique marginal note indicates that land lines were omitted from this quadrangle due to historical survey defects or alleged fraud, reflecting the complex legal history of Colorado mining claims. Natural hazards are prominently marked, including the Waterline Slide and West Riverside Slide, which threatened the transit corridors along the Uncompahgre River and the famous Million Dollar Highway.