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1902 Map of Needle Mountains, 1917 Print
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1902 Map of Needle Mountains

USGS Topo · Published 1917

About this map

The Continental Divide snake through this high-altitude landscape at the turn of the century, defining a wilderness where early industry and transportation clung to the river valleys. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad follows the narrow corridor of the Animas River, providing the primary connection for remote outposts like Needleton and Elk Park. Higher in the peaks, evidence of mineral prospecting appears at the Quartz Mill near the headwaters of the Florida River and the Upper Park Reservoir. The map reveals the early boundaries of the Rio Grande National Forest and the rugged separation between San Juan and La Plata Counties. Significant alpine basins such as Chicago Basin and Vallecito Basin are detailed alongside the prominent Grenadier Range, showing the area before modern recreational development when it was primarily the domain of miners and rail workers.

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Map Details

Date Portrayed1902
Date Published1917
PublisherU.S. Geological Survey
Map TypeTopographic
Scale1:62,500
Physical Dimensions16.4 x 19.97 inches

Editions of this 1902 Needle Mountains Map

Historical Maps of Needleton Through Time

166 maps found

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Source Details

SourceU.S. Geological Survey
CopyrightPublic Domain