1957 Map of Meridian Hill

About this map

Arapaho National Forest and Pike National Forest dominate this mid-century landscape where high-altitude wilderness meets the expanding reach of the Front Range. The map reveals a transition from managed wilderness, represented by the State Game and Fish Reserve and Elk Management Headquarters, to recreation and seasonal residence at Brook Forest and Harris Park. Water resources are a defining feature, with the North Fork Elk Creek and Bear Creek carving deep drainages between prominent landmarks like Meridian Hill and Shadow Mountain. Religious and recreational enclaves appear as Our Lady of the Rockies Camp and Singing River Ranch, while the inclusion of the Elk Falls Ranch and the dramatic Elk Falls drop off Chimney Rock highlight the area's value for both conservation and private landholdings during the 1950s and its subsequent revision in the 1970s.