1966 Map of Thornburgh

About this map

Thornburgh (Historical Site) marks the location of the 1879 Battle of Milk Creek, a pivotal encounter between the U.S. Army and the Ute people. This 1960s survey documents the rugged canyon and plateau country of the Moffat and Rio Blanco county line, where industrial and agricultural interests overlap. The extraction economy of the mid-20th century is evident through the Thornburgh Gas Field and prospecting sites near Uranium Peak, while high-altitude ranching is supported by a network of water management features like the Wilson Ditch and Ferguson Ditch. Rugged access is provided by a series of jeep trails and a pack trail winding through the White River National Forest. The landscape is dominated by Thornburgh Mountain and Aldrich Lakes, illustrating a terrain defined by both historical conflict and the post-war pursuit of mineral wealth.