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1955 Map of Telluride

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Telluride
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The high-altitude mining basins of the San Miguel Mountains define this 1950s survey, capturing the industrial footprint of Telluride and its surrounding silver and gold districts. The map documents the extensive network of tunnels and shafts that drove the local economy, including the Smuggler Mine, Liberty Bell Mine, and Bullion Tunnel. High above the valley floor, the settlement at Tomboy (Ruins) appears as a relic of the late 19th-century boom, situated near the head of Savage Basin.

Beyond the town center, the landscape is marked by the infrastructure of ore processing, such as the Tailings Ponds near Pandora and the remote Alta mining site. Notable travel routes like the Sneffels Trail and Ophir Loop navigate the steep gradients between peaks like Ajax Peak and Dallas Peak. This edition is particularly unique for its margin note regarding the omission of certain land lines due to "alleged fraud or defects" in historical surveys, reflecting the complex legal history of Colorado mining claims.