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1947 Map of El Portal

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of El Portal
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Merced River canyon serves as the primary artery through this Mariposa County landscape, where the All-Year Highway snakes alongside the water toward the western entrance of Yosemite National Park. This mid-century survey captures the region's transition from a rugged mining and ranching frontier to a gateway for recreation. Notable infrastructure includes the Cement Plant and the Geological Exhibit near Incline, while the northern peaks are marked by historic outposts like the McCauley Ranch (Old Stage Sta) and Jenkins Ranch.

Deep in the gulches and along the ridges, the map documents a scattered network of resource extraction and local community life. Settlements like Midpines, Jerseydale, and El Portal are clearly defined alongside educational landmarks such as the Colorado Sch and Bear Creek Sch. The terrain is punctuated by significant mining sites including the Garibaldi Mine, Buffalo Mine, and Schroeder Mine, illustrating the persistent search for minerals across Feliciana Mtn and Buckingham Mtn.