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1953 Map of Mount Wilson

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Mount Wilson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The high San Miguel Mountains defined a landscape of intensive mineral extraction and early transport networks in the early 1950s. Industrial infrastructure is prominent in the northern reaches, where the Silver Pick Mine and Synopsis Mine sit near an Aerial Tramway in the Silver Pick Basin. To the east, the settlement of Ames serves as a waypoint near the junction of the South Fork San Miguel River and Howard Fork.

The southern half of the map reflects the transition from mining to timber and water management, following the path of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad and an Old Railroad Grade toward Coke Oven. The presence of the Coal Mine (Aband) near Flattop Mountain and the water storage at Trout Lake illustrate a multi-layered economy of power and resources. Diverse trails, such as the Lizard Head Trail and the Stock Driveway, suggest the seasonal movement of livestock through the Uncompahgre National Forest.