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1956 Map of Pearl

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Pearl
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

The high mountain settlement of Pearl and its surrounding ranchlands anchor this mid-century survey of the Routt National Forest region. The landscape is defined by the towering peaks of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, where the Continental Divide winds past Mount Zirkel and Big Agnes Mountain. The map reveals a remote economy based on high-altitude mining and ranching, evidenced by features like the Smelter Stack near Pearl and various operations such as the Zirkel Mine and Swede Group Mines.

Family history is preserved through numerous legacy sites, including the Wilford Ranch, Rhea Ranch, and isolated cabins like the Brown Homestead. Water management in this high-desert environment is prominent, with several irrigation projects like the Hans Clauson Ditch and Wolverine Ditch traversing the slopes. The map also highlights significant recreational and wilderness markers, from the Big Creek Lakes campgrounds to the historical site of Fort Boettcher and the remote outpost of Slavonia at the edge of the wilderness.