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1950 Map of Grand Coulee Dam

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Grand Coulee Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Grand Coulee Dam dominates the landscape of north-central Washington on this 1950s survey, showing the transformative impact of the Columbia Basin Project. The massive impoundment created the Franklin D Roosevelt Lake, which stretches eastward through the Colville Indian Reservation. High-voltage Bonneville Power Transmission Lines radiate from the dam site, cutting across the arid plateaus of Lincoln Co.

Smaller human footprints are visible away from the engineering marvel, including the Lafollette Cem and remote ranching outposts like Seaton and Klobuschar. Landmarks such as Jack Woods Butte and Meeker Mtn rise above the complex network of draws and canyons, including Niles Canyon and Kaufman Canyon. The map preserves the locations of community hubs like the Grand Coulee Grange and the rail-oriented Bagdad Junction during an era of significant regional electrification and growth.