1948 Map of Grand Coulee Dam

About this map

The Grand Coulee Dam and its massive industrial infrastructure dominate the upper portion of this mid-century landscape, shortly after the 1946 aerial surveys. This map documents the complex geography of the Columbia River corridor as it transitions into the Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake National Recreational Area. Settlements such as Elmer City, Lone Pine, and Grand Coulee are shown alongside critical utilities like the Pumping Plant and the Bonneville Power Transmission Lines. Further south, the map reveals a more rural, localized network of landmarks, including the Lafollette Cem and the Grand Coulee Grange. This era of the Washington interior was defined by the intersection of tribal land at the Colville Indian Reservation and the massive federal hydroelectric projects that reshaped the river's path through the deep draws and canyons of the Basin.