1955 Map of Silverton

About this map

Silverton serves as the industrial and social anchor of this high-altitude landscape, where the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad terminates near the banks of the Animas River. The 1950s era of mining is captured in extreme detail, showing a network of heavy industry concentrated along Cement Creek and the narrow gulches. Large-scale operations like the Mayflower Mill and the Sunnyside Mine define the economic life of the San Juan Mountains, while smaller claims such as the Old Hundred Mine and Pride of the West Mine pepper the slopes of King Solomon Mountain. Beyond the town site, the Million Dollar Highway (U S Highway 550) winds through the treacherous terrain toward Ironton, passing the St Germain Foundation and the remains of settlements like Chattanooga. This map provides a meticulous record of the relationship between industrial extraction and the difficult topography of the San Juan National Forest.