1955 Map of Watkins SE

About this map

Lowry Air Force Base Bombing Range dominates the northern half of this mid-century Colorado landscape, illustrating the significant military footprint on the High Plains during the early Cold War. The Military Reservation Boundary separates this tactical space from the agricultural lands to the south along the Arapahoe Co Elbert Co line. Outside the range, the map documents a transition toward rural homesteads and early education, anchored by the Schley Sch and several windmills scattered across the drainages of Coal Creek and Box Elder Creek. An Observation Tower situated on high ground within the range serves as a reminder of the area's active-duty purpose during the 1950s, while the natural carving of Hay Gulch defines the southeastern topography.