1949 Map of Garden Valley

About this map

The gold-bearing canyons of the western Sierra Nevada define this mid-century portrait of El Dorado County, where the South Fork American River carves a deep path through the foothills. The landscape is dotted with legacies of the California Gold Country, featuring the Black Oak Mine, Nancy Lee Mine, and Alhambra Mine. Small rural centers such as Garden Valley and Kelsey provide the primary points of settlement, supported by community institutions like the Garden Valley Sch and Kelsey School.