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1967 Map of Chester Gap

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Chester Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Shenandoah National Park dominates this topographic landscape, where the high ridges of the Blue Ridge meet the rolling valley floor. The survey highlights the essential corridor of Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail as they snake along the spine of the mountains, passing numerous overlooks such as Hogwallow Flat Overlook and Gimlet Ridge Overlook. This era of the park's development is well-documented, showing established recreational infrastructure like the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center and the Gravel Springs Shelter.

Beyond the park boundaries, the map reveals the rural life of the Virginia Piedmont and Blue Ridge foothills. Settlements like Browntown, featuring its Browntown Ch, and the high mountain pass at Chester Gap show the historical footprints of local communities. Water played a vital role in this economy, evidenced by the presence of Boyds Mill and Hittles Mill Stream. The northern portion is notably occupied by a large US Dept of Agriculture Research Center, contrasting the wilder forest lands to the south.