1955 Map of Ouray

About this map

Mining operations and vertical topography dominate this 1955 survey of the San Juan Mountains, showing Ouray as it functioned mid-century before its 1980s updates. The settlement is hemmed in by massive peaks and the Uncompahgre Gorge, with industry clinging to the steep slopes of Cascade Mountain and Whitehouse Mtn. A high concentration of named claims and shafts, such as the American Lead and Zinc Mine and Syracuse Mine, reveals the extensive underground geography of the district. Near the Uncompahgre River, the transition from rail to road is visible along the Old Railroad Grade and U.S. 550, while genealogy markers like Cedar Hill Cemetery and local landmarks like the Swimming Pool provide a grounded look at the community's footprint. The landscape's scale is further defined by the Big Blue Wilderness boundary and the deep incision of Box Canyon.