1941 Map of Black Mountain

About this map

Black Mountain and Ridgecrest anchor this survey of the Blue Ridge terrain where the Southern railroad line pierces the continental divide through the Swannanoa Tunnel. The topography is defined by the sharp transition from the Swannanoa Mountains in the west to the headwaters of the Catawba River and Broad River in the east. Social and institutional land use is prominent across the valley floor, featuring the Fellowship Sanatorium, the State Hospital, and the Mountain Orphanage Juvenile Evaluation Center. The landscape's spiritual and recreational history is reflected in numerous sites such as Ourleys Chapel, Tabernacle Ch, and the sprawling Blue Ridge YMCA Camp. Moving south into the Pisgah National Forest, the map reveals a network of high-elevation gaps and knobs, including Lakey Gap and the High Windy Lookout Tower, overseeing the remote drainages of Cane Creek and Flat Creek.