1963 Map of Uncompahgre Peak

About this map

Capitol City (Site) stands as a primary historical landmark in this high-altitude landscape within the Uncompahgre National Forest. During the early 1960s, the area remained a center for exploration and legacy mining, evidenced by the numerous operations concentrated along the drainages of Henson Creek and Yellowstone Gulch. Named mines such as the Pride of America Mine, Czarina Mine, and Henson Mine indicate the intense geological interest in the gulches surrounding the 14,000-foot summit of Uncompahgre Peak. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevation changes, with Matterhorn Peak and Silver Mountain towering over a network of watercourses including the Little Cimarron River and Big Blue Creek. A complex system of a Jeep Trail and a Stock Driveway suggests the dual use of these peaks for both resource extraction and seasonal grazing during this era.