1948 Map of Grindstone Butte

About this map

Deadman Flat dominates the high arid terrain of this southern Idaho landscape, where the primary geographical features are defined by seasonal water sources and prominent volcanic rises. The drainage of Sailor Creek carves a path through the center of the sheet, eventually crossing the boundary between Elmore and Owyhee counties in the southern reaches. This 1948 topographic study, compiled from 1946 aerial photography, captures the sparse infrastructure of the era, focusing on critical water points such as Dove Spring and the aptly named Wilson Well (Dry Well). The most significant landmark is Grindstone Butte, which provides a fixed navigational point in an otherwise undulating plateau. The map illustrates a landscape shaped by grazing and water access, where the scarcity of permanent settlements is reflected in the isolation of these named features.