Loading map...

1947 Map of El Portal

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of El Portal
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Merced River corridors and the steep canyons of the western Sierra Nevada define this mid-century survey, capturing the gateway to Yosemite National Park just after World War II. The landscape is a complex patchwork of public lands, including the Stanislaus National Forest and Sierra National Forest, where resource management is marked by the Kinsley Guard Station and Mariposa Guard Sta. Transportation is anchored by the Yosemite All-Year Highway and the older Coulterville Road, tracing routes that supported both early tourism and local industry.

Industrial and educational history is visible in the scattered Colorado Sch and Buckingham Mtn Sch, alongside mineral extraction sites like the Buffalo Mine and Early Mine. Former travel stops like McCauley Ranch (Old Stage Sta) and the Summit Inn illustrate the evolution of transit through the rugged Mariposa County foothills. The mapping of Rancheria Flat and Indian Flat Guard Sta shows the established riverside settlements that served as essential hubs before modern development expanded the region's footprint.