1960 Map of Moab

About this map

Moab serves as the focal point for this expansive regional study, situated at a critical crossing of the Colorado River during the mid-1950s. The landscape is defined by the high elevations of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, where peaks like Mount Peale and Mount Waas tower over the red rock formations of Arches National Monument. To the north, the Denver and Rio Grande Western RR traces the desert corridor through Thompson and Crescent Junction, while the eastern portion of the map covers the mining and milling settlements of western Colorado, including Uravan, Naturita, and Paradox. The map documents a rugged network of watercourses like Indian Creek and Hatch Wash, alongside geological landmarks such as Looking Glass Rock and Fisher Towers, capturing the era when uranium mining and ranching shaped the economic life of the plateau country.