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1897 Map of Telluride

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Telluride
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1897
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1897

About this map

The town of Telluride sits at the heart of this high-altitude mining district, where the industrial footprint of the silver boom is etched into every canyon. This survey documents the complex infrastructure required to extract ore from the San Miguel Mountains, featuring an intricate network of aerial trams, tunnels, and mills like the Smuggler Union Mill and the Gold King Mill. Transportation is dominated by the Rio Grande Southern R.R. and its dedicated Telluride Branch, which connected remote outposts like Ames (P.O.) and Ophir Sta. to the broader world.

From the heights of Ophir Pass to the depths of Swamp Canyon, the map reveals a landscape undergoing rapid development. Water management for power and milling is evident at Trout Lake and the spectacular Bridal Veil Fall. Settlement extends beyond the main towns to include family holdings like Schmecks Ranch and isolated mining camps such as San Bernardo, providing a detailed look at the geography of late 19th-century Colorado industry.