1960 Map of Devils Kitchen

About this map

Devils Kitchen dominates the central landscape of this Wyoming survey, revealing a highly eroded badlands topography north of Shell Creek. The 1960 field checks capture an era of intensive water management for Big Horn County agriculture, illustrated by the complex network of the Shell Canal, Porter Canal, and the Whaley Ditch. An interpretive highlight is the Scharen Thompson Aqueduct, which demonstrates the engineering required to move water across the broken terrain of Potato Draw and Scharen. Industrial activity is evident through numerous claypits and a drill hole scattered across the northern sections, while the presence of Lot 39 indicates specific land divisions near the creek. The map serves as a record of the Missouri River Basin development, showcasing the intersection of natural gulches like Herren Gulch and Porter Gulch with man-made irrigation systems.