The Geography of Colorado and Rocky Mountain Regions with Map [Title on Front Cover]

A late 19th-century map of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad system.

Chartered in 1870, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (eventually, the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad) is one of the American West’s most iconic railways. Originally constructed using a 3 ft. narrow-gauge track to save on building and operating costs, the railroad was organized to connect Denver to Mexico at El Paso and operate as a transcontinental bridge between Salt Lake City and the Colorado capital. The rugged terrain made construction exceptionally difficult, and several impressive engineering feats were required to complete the network.

This pocket map was issued by the Denver & Rio Grande in 1895 and was specially compiled for the annual meeting of the National Education Association, held in Denver that year. A ‘Key to Contents’, written by Arapahoe County Superintendent of Schools A.D. Shepard, provides additional information on the publication;

“Hence the teacher who will make a careful study of this map and the descriptive matter will find that he has acquired a knowledge of Colorado that will be useful to him in the discharge of his duties as a teacher. Another object of this folder is to aid you in arranging for side trips to the mountains on the occasion of your visit to Denver, making it one of the most instructive and pleasing events of your life.”

The primary image shows the D&RG system in operation across Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. Standard, narrow, three-rail, and proposed routes are identified according to the legend in the lower left. Shaded printed color and blue letters highlight eight different routes; the scenic points and locations of interest for each are described in detail on the verso.

The map was copywritten by S.K. Hooper, Agent for the D&RG, and printed in Chicago by Knight, Leonard & Company in 1895. The front cover credits A.D. Shepard with the compilation of the guide. Scarce, with only four copies noted in OCLC – the Newberry, Yale Library, Denver Public Library, and the University of Colorado.

Source: Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum;  American Rails