1961 Map of Oh-Be-Joyful

About this map

Ruby Range and the high alpine basins of the White River National Forest dominate this 1961 survey, where the mining heritage of Gunnison County is clearly etched into the terrain. The settlements of Pittsburg and Elkton appear as focal points for historical industrial activity, surrounded by a high concentration of hard-rock workings such as the Pittsburg Mine, Augusta Mine, and the Painter Boy Mine. The landscape is a network of high-altitude transport, from the pack trail crossing Oh-be-joyful Pass to the old railroad grade following the Slate River. This map captures the region when the economy was transitioning from active mining toward recreation, evidenced by the Gothic Picnic Ground and the preservation of the Gunnison National Forest. Natural features like Lake Irwin, Blue Lake, and the massive Gunnison Scarp provide context for the steep, glaciated geography that challenged early prospectors and engineers.