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1955 Map of Telluride

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Telluride
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Telluride serves as the focal point of this mid-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by an intensive hard-rock mining economy. The town site is surrounded by a dense network of industrial sites, including the Smuggler Mine, Liberty Bell Mine, and Cimarron Mine. High above the valley floor, the Tomboy (Ruins) and Montana Mine (Ruins) mark the remains of high-altitude settlements and operations that once drove the region's wealth.

The map details the complex geography of the area's hanging valleys and basins, such as Marshall Basin and Savage Basin, which are connected by a web of tunnels and trails. Significant infrastructure like the Meldrum Tunnel and the Stillwell Tunnel reflect the subterranean efforts to extract ore. Local landmarks such as Lone Tree Cem and the Bridal Veil Jeep Trail provide valuable touchpoints for genealogists and local historians tracing the footings of this famous silver and gold camp during the 1950s.