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1938 Map of Mount Elbert

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Mount Elbert
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Mt Elbert and Mt Massive, two of the highest peaks in the Rockies, dominate this 1930s landscape. The survey captures a high-altitude economy transitioning from the peak of 19th-century extraction to mid-20th-century conservation and recreation. Mining heritage is evident in the numerous gulches like Iowa Gulch and Empire Gulch, alongside the Columbine Mine. Meanwhile, the presence of the US Fish Hatchery and the Mt Massive Trout Club signals an era of managed natural resources.

Transportation corridors follow the water, with the Denver and Rio Grande Western RR and U. S. Route 24 tracing the Arkansas River valley. Small settlements and specialized stops like Malta, Snowden, and Yale Sta served the rail line. To the west, the Holy Cross National Forest protects the headwaters of numerous creeks, including Halfmoon Creek and Lake Creek, which feed the prominent Twin Lakes reservoir system.