F.V. Hayden. Atlas of Colorado and Portions of Adjacent Territories. 1881.

Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden (1829–1887)

North-Western Colorado and Part of Utah
Atlas of Colorado and Portions of Adjacent Territories
From United States Geological and Geographical Surveys of the Territories, Washington, D.C., 1881
Lithographed map
Sheet size: 37.5 x 26.5 inches

This detailed map of northwestern Colorado and part of Utah was produced under the direction of Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden as part of the U.S. Geological and Geographical Surveys of the Territories, a crucial effort to document the American West in the late 19th century. Published in 1881, it reflects the increasing precision of government-sponsored cartography during the post-Civil War expansion. The map captures the rugged topography, river systems, and emerging settlements of the region with remarkable accuracy.

At the time of its publication, the geopolitics of the region were defined by tensions between Indigenous nations, settlers, and the federal government. The Ute people, who had long inhabited Colorado and Utah, had been forcibly removed from much of their ancestral land following the 1880 Ute Agreement, which further reduced their territory and opened western Colorado to increased white settlement. This period also saw the expansion of railroads, mining, and ranching, reinforcing federal control over the area and accelerating economic development. Additionally, the survey was part of a broader movement to scientifically classify and exploit the West’s natural resources, contributing to policies that prioritized extraction and settlement over Indigenous land claims.

Hayden’s surveys played a crucial role in shaping public understanding of the Western frontier, influencing land use, conservation, and scientific study. This map stands as a testament to the period’s advancements in exploration and geographic documentation. Presented in fine condition, it is an important artifact for collectors of American cartographic history.