1955 Map of Telluride

About this map

The high-altitude mining district surrounding Telluride appears here during a mid-century period of transition, where the legacy of the San Juan silver boom is preserved in the detailed mapping of remote shafts and industrial infrastructure. The complex network of the San Miguel Southern RR and an old railroad grade trace the difficult logistics of the San Miguel River valley, connecting settlements like Vance Junction and Pandora. While Telluride remains the primary hub, the map records numerous smaller communities and work sites, including Ophir, San Bernardo, and the mountain-top Tomboy (Ruins). This survey captures the landscape as it stood before its later evolution into a major ski destination, emphasizing the original extraction economy through features like the Smuggler Mine, Silver Pick Mine, and Butterfly Mine. For genealogists and local historians, the inclusion of the Wilson Mesa Cem, the Wilson Mesa Sch, and the Ophir Loop Sch provides essential evidence of the families and school districts that once populated these steep mesas.