1955 Map of Jewel Cave NW

About this map

Jewel Cave National Monument and the Black Hills National Forest dominate this mid-century topographic survey of western South Dakota. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of drainage systems, including Hell Canyon, Tepee Canyon, and Schenk Canyon, which carve through the high terrain. Human presence is sparse and tied to ranching and federal land management, evidenced by the X-T Ranch and Soper Ranch, as well as the Tepee Ranger Station. Evidence of shifting rural demographics is preserved in the location of the Lauzon Sch and the Elk Mountain Sch (Abandoned), pointing to a time when small schoolhouses served the families scattered across these remote draws and spring-fed plateaus. Numerous named water sources like Baldwin Spring and Lost Spring highlight the critical importance of water access in this semi-arid region of Custer County.