1955 Map of Telluride

About this map

The town of Telluride serves as the industrial and social heart of this high-altitude landscape, documented during a mid-century period when mining operations remained central to the region's identity. Dozens of named mining sites, including the Liberty Bell Mine, Smuggler Mine, and Tomboy Mine, are etched into the steep slopes above the San Miguel River. The map highlights a complex infrastructure of early transportation and industry, featuring the Rio Grande Southern RR and the historic Ophir Loop near the Ophir Loop Sch. From the processing site at Pandora to the remote Coke Oven settlement, the geography is a vertical network of basins and peaks, such as Lizard Head and Mount Wilson. Notable local landmarks like the Wilson Mesa Cem and Skyline Ranch provide important reference points for genealogists and local historians tracing the families who worked these alpine claims.