Loading map...

1958 Map of Thompson

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Thompson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad corridors define the northern landscape of this 1958 survey, where the small settlement of Thompson serves as a critical junction against the towering Book Cliffs. To the south, the map reveals an intensive era of uranium and vanadium exploration, marked by a dense cluster of workings such as the Ringtail Mine, Little Eva Mine, and Memphis Mines located within The Poison Strip and Yellow Cat Flat.

This period of industrial activity contrasts sharply with the early boundaries of Arches National Monument in the southwest corner. The survey meticulously details the natural sandstone architecture of Devils Garden, documenting iconic features like Landscape Arch, Double O Arch, and Tower Arch. Beyond the mining claims and park boundaries, the map traces an extensive network of jeep trails and washes including Salt Wash and Thompson Wash, illustrating how the desert was navigated before modern highway development.