1950 Map of Emigrant Gap

About this map

The Oregon Trail winds across this 1950 Wyoming landscape, marked by a specific Oregon Trail Marker near the North Platte River. This intersection of historic westward migration and mid-century land use is centered on the Bessemer area, where the Bessemer School and the Old Goose Egg Ranch House (Ruins) provide concrete ties to early settlement. The geography is defined by the prominent Emigrant Gap Ridge and the winding course of Poison Spider Creek, which cuts through the arid terrain alongside the Casper Canal. Industrial activity of the era is evident through the presence of several Bentonite Mines and an extensive Pipe Line network. The map reveals a complex water management system for this high-desert environment, including numerous Siphons, Flumes, and an Artesian Well scattered among the draws and ridges.