1990 Map of Bridgeport

About this map

Bridgeport and the surrounding high desert canyonlands of the Burnt River basin reveal a landscape deeply shaped by 19th-century resource extraction. This 1990 provisional study identifies several significant historic locations, including the gold-mining remnants of Malheur City and Clarksville, alongside the notably identified China Town. The intricate network of hydraulic engineering is evident through labels for the Eldorado Ditch, Auburn Ditch, and Elliot Ditch, which once carried water across this arid terrain to fuel placer mining operations. From the high point of Bill Neighbor Peak to the basin at Kentucky Flat, the map documents the Baker and Malheur county line as it traverses a territory of steep gulches and prominent landmarks like Amelia Butte. The presence of the Iron Door Mine and various prospects underscores the region's enduring identity as a frontier of mineral discovery.