1939 Map of Bald Creek

About this map

The Cane River winds through the heart of the Bald Mountains on this 1939 Tennessee Valley Authority survey, illustrating a landscape defined by isolated mountain communities and steep ridges. Small settlements like Bee Log, Lewisburg, and Swiss are situated along narrow valley floors, connected by a network of rural schools and churches such as Piney Grove Sch and Harmony Ch. The map highlights the high-elevation terrain of the Pisgah National Forest and Cherokee National Forest, with the Appalachian Trail following the state boundary between Tennessee and North Carolina over peaks like Big Bald. This survey captures the region before extensive modernization, showing numerous family cemeteries like the Phillips Cem and Whittington Cem that serve as vital records for local genealogical research.