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1955 Map of Dead Horse Flats

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Dead Horse Flats
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Black Hills National Forest land dominates this 1955 survey of the South Dakota backcountry, revealing a landscape defined by its vital water sources and early ranching footprint. Scattered holdings like the Wilson Ranch and Pitts Ranch are situated near deep drainages such as Gillette Canyon and Redbird Canyon, which provided the necessary shelter and resources for high-country livestock operations. The topography is dotted with dozens of named springs, including Gooseberry Spring, Bieral Spring, and Dead Horse Spring, illustrating the importance of every seep and flow in this arid environment.

Notable landmarks such as Surveyors Hill and the distinctively colored Yellow Butte and Red Butte provide navigational anchors for the area. The map also identifies subterranean features like Bear Trap Cave and Maloof Cave on the northern edge of the quadrangle. Produced in cooperation with the United States Atomic Energy Commission, this survey captures the region just as modern mapping techniques were beginning to detail its most remote corners.