1951 Map of Valdez

About this map

Coal mining and rail transport dominate the Purgatoire River valley at the dawn of the 1950s. The operations at the Frederick Mine are shown in considerable detail, including its shaft, airshaft, water tank, and pipe drain. Nearby, the infrastructure of the Colorado and Wyoming railroad connects the industrial settlements of Valdez and Segundo. The landscape is a network of deep drainage systems like Long Canyon and Widow Woman Canyon that cut through the Maxwell Grant. Local genealogy is well-represented by several burial sites, including the San Juan Cem, Coke Oven Cem, and Tijeras Cemetery. The map also captures the remnants of earlier industry at the Coke Oven (Aband), reflecting a shift in the region's productive life.