1946 Map of Hightower Bald

About this map

The Blue Ridge Divide forms the backbone of this 1946 field study, where the high ridges of the Nantahala National Forest meet the Chattahoochee National Forest along the North Carolina and Georgia state line. The Appalachian Trail snakes along the ridgeline, passing over peaks like Hightower Bald and through remote points such as Bly Gap and Rich Cove Gap. This document captures the remote mountain settlements of Tate City and Persimmon during an era when local life revolved around small mountain institutions like the Tate City Sch and Plumorchard Ch. The drainage patterns are clearly defined as the Tallulah River and Coleman River carve through the steep terrain, eventually feeding toward the northern reaches of Lake Burton. Researchers can trace the early path of the Scenic Highway as it winds through the southern portion of the quadrangle.