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1893 Map of Platte Canyon

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Platte Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1941
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1941

About this map

The North Fork of the South Platte River carves a critical corridor for late-nineteenth-century transit, serving as the path for the Denver South Park and Pacific RR. Along this winding mountain grade, small settlements like Baileys, Pine Grove, and Buffalo appear as vital stops in the rugged canyon landscape. The terrain is defined by dramatic peaks and landmarks such as Thunder Butte, Devils Head, and Long Scraggy Peak, which dominate the central and eastern portions of the Pike National Forest.

Tracing the waterways reveals a network of tributaries including Buffalo Creek and Lost Park Creek that flow through high-altitude parks like Hayman Park and Deer Park. In the northeast, the South Platte River emerges from Platte Canyon where it meets the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR. This survey, conducted by Stuart P. Johnson and Willard D. Johnson, captures the region's transition into a more accessible mountain interior prior to the extensive modern development of the Front Range.