1919 Map of Rocky Mountain National Park

About this map

Grand Lake and the high peaks of the Front Range dominate this early topographic study, surveyed just as Rocky Mountain National Park was established. The map documents a landscape in transition, where old mining camps like the Fourth of July Mines and the Monarch PO settlement sit alongside emerging tourist gateways like Estes Park. The arrival of the Denver and Salt Lake RR near Granby and the development of early motor routes like Fall River Road and Trail Ridge signal the shift from extraction to recreation. High-altitude landmarks such as Longs Peak, Mt Alice, and Mt Meeker are meticulously rendered, while the western side of the continental divide reveals the Kawuneeche Valley and the headwaters of the Colorado River. Local life is visible in the placement of the Sleepy Hollow School and isolated outposts like Camp Handy, providing a detailed view of the region before modern development.