1960 Map of Moab

About this map

Moab serves as a central hub on the eastern edge of the Colorado River, anchoring a region defined by complex canyon systems and high mountain peaks. During the late 1950s, the landscape was deeply influenced by the extraction of uranium and vanadium, with specialized processing sites at Uravan and Naturita connected by the winding routes of the San Miguel River. To the north, the Denver & Rio Grande Western RR follows a more northern corridor through Cisco and Thompson, providing a critical rail link across the desert reaches of Grand County. The high-altitude terrain of the La Sal Mountains, featuring Mount Peale and Mount Tukuhnikivatz, stands in contrast to the deep depressions of Paradox Valley and Sinbad Ridge. Protected lands like Arches National Monument and the Manti-La Sal National Forest are already well-established, preserving the unique geological formations and watersheds that define this borderland between Utah and Colorado.