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1948 Map of Feliciana Mtn.

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Feliciana Mtn.
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

The Merced River snakes through the northern reach of this landscape, carving a steep canyon that separates the high ridges of the Sierra Nevada. In the late 1940s, the Yosemite All-Year Highway (140) served as the primary artery through this rugged terrain, connecting small settlements and roadside stops like Briceburg, Midpines, and Timber Lodge. The map reveals a region defined by its extractive history, with numerous gold-era operations scattered across the slopes, including the Feliciana Mine and King Solomon Mine.

Social life in these mountain communities centered around small rural institutions such as Colorado Sch and Bear Creek Sch. The presence of the Mariposa Ranger Sta and the boundaries of the Sierra National Forest reflect the transition toward federal land management in the mid-20th century. High points like Feliciana Mtn and Sweetwater Pt overlook a complex network of drainages including Trabuco Creek and Sherlock Creek, which once drew prospectors into these deep gulches.