1960 Map of Paradox

About this map

The Dolores River cuts a deep, winding course through this canyon country of western Colorado, where industrial activity and remote settlement intersect. In the late 1940s and 1950s, the landscape was defined by an extensive network of mineral claims, particularly concentrated on the eastern mesas. Clusters such as the Nucla Mine, Raven Mine, and Golden Cycle Mine suggest a period of intense prospecting and extraction. Near the settlement of Bedrock, the presence of Salt Evaporators and a Salt Well along the river highlights a localized salt industry alongside the more widespread mining operations.