|
||
|
|
|
|
This finely detailed drainage map of Colorado was published as part of F.V. Hayden’s monumental 1877 Geological and Geographical Atlas of Colorado, a landmark of post-Civil War scientific cartography in the American West. Issued by the U.S. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories, the map offers a comprehensive hydrological portrait of Colorado at a moment of rapid territorial development and federal interest in irrigation, mineral exploitation, and westward expansion.
The map emphasizes the state's complex system of rivers, creeks, and tributaries in vivid blue, layered atop topographic and settlement data sourced from U.S. Land Surveys and Clarence King’s 40th Parallel Survey. Special attention is given to the delineation of “dotted drainage,” indicating regions with ephemeral or seasonal water flow. The mountainous terrain of the Continental Divide and San Juan Mountains dominates the west and southwest quadrants, with rivers like the Gunnison, Arkansas, and Rio Grande prominently traced.
Notable towns such as Denver, Pueblo, Del Norte, and Silverton appear alongside rail lines, stage routes, and early mining camps. The map also records Native American agency locations and reservations (notably the Ute Indian Reservation in the southwest), ghost towns, and early settlements—many of which would soon disappear or transform in the decades following Colorado’s admission to statehood (1876).
States
A second state of this map was published for the 1881 edition, with a longer Colorado Central Railroad and towns along it, including Berthoud and Loveland, a segment of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, and a proposed extension of the Denver & Rio Grande.
Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, known to the Sioux as "man-who-picks-up-stones-running," stands among the pantheon of eminent geologists of the 19th century.
Hayden's academic career commenced at Oberlin College, and he furthered his education at Albany Medical College, where he received his M.D. in 1853. Despite his medical training, Hayden was primarily engaged in geology, a field to which he would dedicate his life's work.
Hayden commenced his geological career with a survey in the Nebraska Territory in 1856. In 1859 and 1860, he conducted further exploratory work in the Rocky Mountains, particularly in Colorado, which was then part of the Nebraska and Kansas territories. His early work in the field earned him the respect of Native American tribes, with the Sioux reportedly dubbing him "man-who-picks-up-stones-running" due to his avid and energetic collection of geological samples during his expeditions.
By the 1860s, Hayden had risen to prominence as a geologist and was appointed the United States Geologist for the Geological Survey of the Territories. This role would define his career, leading numerous surveys in the Western United States. Notably, from 1871 to 1872, Hayden led a survey into the region that would become Yellowstone National Park, and his reports significantly contributed to the establishment of Yellowstone as the first National Park in 1872.
Hayden's most significant contribution to geological literature was the Geological Atlas of Colorado, published in 1877. This work was the result of comprehensive surveys conducted across Colorado, meticulously documenting the state's geography and geology. The atlas offered detailed maps on a scale previously unseen, encompassing not only Colorado but adjacent areas, including parts of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Hayden's influence extended to academia, as he was affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania for a period, where he held the position of professor of geology. His academic and field work combined to form a substantial body of knowledge that would be used by future scholars and explorers.
Ferdinand V. Hayden passed away on December 22, 1887, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His enduring legacy is reflected in the numerous natural features named after him, including Hayden Valley in Yellowstone and Mount Hayden in Colorado. His contributions to geology during the 19th century remain a cornerstone of American geological and geographical sciences.
![(Colorado Springs Photograph) [Original cabinet card albumen photograph of Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, looking south toward Cheyenne Mountain]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/87515.jpg)
![[ Colorado ]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/99487.jpg)
![(Cima, California) [Bird's-Eye View Map Showing Twenty-six Claims of the Arcalvada Mining & Milling Co. Dawson Mining District, Cima, San Bernardino Co., Cal.]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/93558.jpg)
![[Lewis & Clark] Missouri Territory formerly Louisiana.](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/78245.jpg)