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1993 Map of Battleship Rock

Name: 1993 Topographic Map of Battleship Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1996
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1996

About this map

Slim Buttes dominate this 1990s survey of Harding County, South Dakota, where the dramatic sedimentary formations of the Custer National Forest rise above the high plains. The map records a landscape defined by ranching and wildlife management, anchored by the State Experiment Farm and Antelope Reserve in the southwest corner. Named landmarks like Battleship Rock, The Castles, and Flag Rock illustrate the distinctive geology that made this area a recognizable waypoint.

Evidence of local heritage is found at family operations such as Dixon Ranch, Helms Ranch, and Lunnery Ranch, situated near reliable water sources like Little Joe Spring and Lena Spring No 1. The map also captures the critical geography of Reva Gap, a natural passage through the buttes, while identifying remote features like Moonshine Lake and the winding Atterbury Creek. This document serves as a detailed record of the intersections between public forest lands and private homesteads in the northern Great Plains.