1933 Map of Bushnell

About this map

Forney Creek and its tributaries define this pocket of the Great Smoky Mountains as it was documented by surveyors D.H. Watson and A.J. Ogle in the late 1920s. The landscape is a network of named ridges and high points, including the prominent Welch Bald and the sharp incline of Advalorem Ridge. Cultural identifiers from the early twentieth century are sparse but significant, centered on rural education centers like Mill Creek Sch and School No 2. Travelers through this difficult terrain relied on a series of gaps to navigate the heights, such as De Lozier Gap, Soapstone Gap, and Licklog Gap. The map also captures several family-named landmarks, like Loudermilk Ridge and Pinnacle Ridge, which reflect the ancestral connections to these mountain slopes before the full establishment of the national park. Small watercourses like Cold Spring Br and Bee Gum Br drain the steep topography below High Rocks and Bee Knob.