1955 Map of Ouray

About this map

Ouray sits deep within a high-altitude mining district where the Uncompahgre River begins its descent through the Uncompahgre Gorge. This mid-century survey documents a landscape defined by an intensive hard-rock mining economy, evidenced by the high density of named claims such as the American Nettie Mine, Bachelor Mine, and Chief Ouray Mine. While the gold and silver booms of the previous century had transitioned, industrial infrastructure remains prominent, including the American-Lead and Zinc Mill and the Old Railroad Grade tracing the valley floor toward Portland. Local life is visible in the Cedar Hill Cemetery and the Radium Springs Swimming Pool, while the surrounding Uncompahgre National Forest is crossed by a network of named trails. The map detail highlights the steep vertical relief of The Amphitheater and The Blowout, alongside family operations like Dalpaz Ranch and Erickson Ranch.