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1901 Map of Canyon

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1901
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1901

About this map

Yellowstone National Park reveals its early federal management and raw geothermal character in this survey based on fieldwork from the mid-1880s. The landscape is a complex network of thermal features and dramatic topography, anchored by the Lamar River and the high peaks of the Absaroka Range. Early travelers and scientists documented specific landmarks such as the Fossil Forest and the treacherous Death Gulch, while early infrastructure like Yanceys and the Hotel near Bridge Bay provided the only permanent human presence in the wilderness.

The thermal activity is meticulously mapped, showing the density of Hot Springs across the Mirror Plateau and the unique formations of The Mudkettles and Mushpots. These features, along with Whistler Geyser and the Mud Geysers near the Hayden Valley, highlight the volatile geology that fascinated early explorers. Significant canyon landmarks including Inspiration Point and Lookout Point provide orientation points along the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, captured before the era of modern road development and heavy tourism.