1955 Map of Jewel Cave

About this map

Jewel Cave National Monument and the surrounding high limestone plateaus of the Black Hills National Forest anchor this mid-century topographic record. The landscape is defined by a dense network of dry canyons, including the winding Hell Canyon and Lithograph Canyon, where water sources like Lithograph Spring and McKenna Spring were vital for the scattered cattle operations of the day. Settlement is sparse and primarily ranch-based, evidenced by the Morrison Ranch, Dunbar Ranch, and Ventling Ranch. This survey, conducted with the assistance of the Atomic Energy Commission, also notes specialized mineral extraction at the King Tut Mine and Stapp Quarry, alongside the rural Bull Flats Sch, providing a clear view of the mid-1950s ranching and mining infrastructure in Custer County.