1897 Map of Spanish Peaks

About this map

East Spanish Peak and West Spanish Peak dominate the northwestern horizon of this 1895 survey, casting long shadows over the complex network of canyons and coal-related settlements in southern Colorado. The landscape is defined by the transition from the high elevations of the San Isabel National Forest down into the valleys of the Apishapa River and the Purgatoire River. This era shows a flourishing coal mining and rail economy, with the Denver and Rio Grande RR Trinidad Line and the Colorado and Southern RR serving essential industrial hubs like Ludlow, Hastings, and Berwind. Cultural history is deeply etched into the map through numerous Hispanic plazas and settlements such as Trujillo Plaza and Martinez Plaza, alongside the expansive southern reach of the Maxwell Grant. From the post office at Theras (Madrid P.O.) to the company towns of Sopris and Starkville, the map reveals a meticulously documented world of high-altitude industry and frontier community life.