1938 Map of Damascus

About this map

Damascus sits at the confluence of mountain waters and valley ridges, serving as a hub for both the Norfolk and Western railroad and travelers along the Appalachian Trail. This landscape is defined by the winding paths of the Middle Fork Holston River and South Fork Holston River, which powered local industry at sites like De Busk Mill, Mock Mill, and Vails Mill. The 1938 survey, updated with 1969 aerial data, reveals a deeply settled rural interior with numerous community landmarks including Liberty Hall Sch, Ebbing Spring Ch, and Mt Olivet Ch. To the southeast, the terrain rises sharply into the Iron Mountains within the Jefferson National Forest, where peaks like The Cuckoo overlook the drainage of Laurel Creek. This document provides a look at a region where the industrial legacy of river-side milling and rail transport meets the protected wilderness of the Virginia highlands.