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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

The Merced River canyon serves as the central artery for this 1947 topographical study, where the All-Year Highway snakes through steep Sierra foothills. This era captures the transition from early mining and stagecoach travel to modern mountain tourism, with the McCauley Ranch (Old Stage Sta) and Incline marking older routes of commerce. High-altitude groves like the Merced Grove Big Trees stand near the park boundary, while the landscape below is dotted with active and legacy mining operations, including the Schroeder Mine and King Solomon Mine.

Small mountain communities and service hubs like El Portal, Briceburg, and Midpines are established along the river and highway, supporting both local industry and visitors to the nearby Yosemite region. For the genealogist and local historian, the map reveals the precise locations of rural social centers such as Colorado Sch and Bear Creek Sch, along with numerous family-named landmarks like Jenkins Ranch and Darrah.