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A striking topographical map documenting a vast and rugged section of the American West during the post-Civil War era of exploration, this sheet is part of Ferdinand V. Hayden’s landmark survey atlas of Colorado, a foundational effort in the scientific mapping of the Rocky Mountain region. This specific sheet covers an area that includes present-day northwestern Colorado and a portion of northeastern Utah, extending from the "Grand River Valley" to the Green and Yampa Rivers.
The map offers highly detailed contour lines and geological forms, illustrating features such as the Book Cliffs, the White River, Grand River Valley (now Colorado River), Cañon Pintado, and valleys carved into the Uinta Plateau. Towns and camps are rare, underscoring the remote and largely undeveloped nature of the region at the time. Geographic features like Powell’s Park, Yampa Plateau, and San Rafael Swell are identified, foreshadowing future conservation and land-use debates.
Hayden’s survey, conducted under Congressional mandate, was instrumental in documenting the mineral resources and geologic complexity of the American West, paving the way for both settlement and environmental awareness.
States
A second state of this map was published for the 1881 edition, which adds Golden City on White River Cañon and Windsor.
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.
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