1969 Map of Battleship Rock

About this map

Slim Buttes dominate the center of this Harding County landscape, rising above the surrounding plains of the Custer National Forest. This late 1960s survey documents a region defined by high-plains ranching and specialized land use, including the State Experiment Farm and Antelope Reserve in the southwest. A network of springs, such as Little Joe Spring and Puckeroo Spring, provide essential water sources for the cattle operations at Olson Ranch, Lermeny Ranch, and Helms Ranch. The topographic character of the buttes is marked by notable landmarks like the namesake Battleship Rock, the narrow Reva Gap, and Window Rock. Human activity in the area ranges from the industrial residue of the Ivers Mine to the recreational Reva Campground, while a primitive Landing Strip and the North End Road facilitate movement through this sparsely populated territory.