1941 Schmidt Pictorial Map of Colorado

This is a 1941 Ray Schmidt pictorial map of Colorado. The map depicts the state from Utah to Kansas and Nebraska and from Wyoming to New Mexico. Beautifully and intricately illustrated, myriad small vignettes populate the entire state. Cities and towns are labeled, including Denver (complete with an illustration of the state capitol building), Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Durango, and Grand Junction. Since the Rocky Mountains divide the state in two, numerous peaks and mountain passes are noted and their names and elevations are given. A charming illustration of Cliff House at Mesa Verde National Park is situated in the lower left corner, while Dinosaur National Monument in the upper left corner is marked by an illustration of a large sauropod. Colorado wildlife, including bighorn sheep, deer, elk, beaver, and pheasant add yet another level of charm to this lovely piece. Schmidt also effectively blends the old with the new, juxtaposing army airfields, planes, and cars with cowboys, prospectors, and rodeos. Colorado’s wild west heritage is also evoked through the inclusion of covered wagons and a stagecoach. The whole is surrounded by a frame that evokes the imagery of a stretcher used for drying animal hides, completing the aesthetic.

This map was created by Ray Schmidt and published by the Bradford-Robinson Printing Company for the Colorado State Highway Department in 1941.