1963 Map of Diablo Dam

About this map

Diablo Dam and the hydro-electric infrastructure of the Skagit River project dominate this mid-century survey of the North Cascades. The map details the complex industrial presence within Mt Baker National Forest, including the company towns of Diablo and Newhalem, which served as hubs for workers at the Gorge Powerhouse and Newhalem Creek Powerhouse. The relationship between technological advancement and the environment is clear as Gorge Lake and Diablo Lake are hemmed in by the sheer elevations of Davis Peak and Mt Ross. High-altitude features such as Colonial Glacier and the Neve Glacier below Snowfield Peak provide a precise record of the ice fields before decades of retreat. From the Intake Tower to the remote Lookout Trail, the sheet documents the intersection of utility and wilderness during a period of significant regional power development.