1959 Map of Black Moshannon

About this map

Moshannon State Forest dominates this topographic landscape along the border of Clearfield and Centre counties, where industrial activity and conservation efforts sit side-by-side. The presence of a strip mine near Grassflat and the Penn Central rail line—complete with a Viaduct and Tunnel—signals the region’s historic reliance on coal and transportation. Meanwhile, recreational development is evident at Black Moshannon State Park, centered on Black Moshannon Lake and its associated dam. The map records specialized infrastructure of the era, such as the Mid-State Airport, the Philipsburg Radio Range Station, and Ski Lifts on the slopes above Starband Beaver Skytop Run. Small settlements like Peale and Gorton are tucked into the high terrain, connected by rugged routes like Rattlesnake Road. From the Rattlesnake Lookout Tower to the wetlands of Dry Hollow, the survey documents a transition from heavy extraction to public land management.