Loading map...

1903 Map of Lake City

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Lake City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Lake City stands as the industrial and social anchor of this high-elevation terrain, where the Gunnison River and Henson Creek converge. The landscape is defined by the heavy infrastructure of the mining era, notably the Hidden Treasure Mill and the Red Rover Mill located near Capitol City. These operations were serviced by the Denver and Rio Grande R. R., which pushed its tracks through difficult mountain passes to reach Kellogg Siding and Youman.

Beyond the valley floors, the topography ascends sharply into the Gunnison National Forest, dominated by landmark summits like Uncompahgre Peak and the distinctive Matterhorn Peak. The high Alpine Plateau and features such as the Iron Beds and Sugarloaf Rock highlight the geological complexity that drove the region's prospecting and settlement patterns. This survey documents the network of gulches and creeks, including Slaughterhouse Gulch and Independence Gulch, that once funneled mineral wealth toward the local smelters.