1895 Map of La Plata

About this map

The La Plata Mountains dominate this high-altitude landscape during the late nineteenth-century mining boom, showing a terrain etched with the industrial marks of ore extraction. Silver and gold prospecting is evident through specialized infrastructure like the Little Kate Mill and Baker Contact Mill, alongside established operations such as the Columbus Mine. Transportation in this difficult environment relied heavily on the Rio Grande Southern R. R., which winds through the southern portion of the map connecting Hesperus to Ute Junction. The survey illustrates the stark transition from the high-peaks region near Hesperus Peak and Banded Mt. to the lower grazing lands and homesteads like Menefee Ranch further west. In addition to hard-rock mining in the basins, the presence of the Ute Coal Mine indicates the diverse mineral economy supporting the local settlements of Mayday and Cima.