1955 Map of Jewel Cave NW

About this map

The Black Hills National Forest defines this high-elevation landscape in the mid-1950s, a rugged area of limestone canyons and timber managed by the Tepee Ranger Station. This specific terrain shows the rural educational landscape of the era, marking the location of the Lauzon Sch in the southern reaches and the Elk Mountain Sch (Abandoned) further north. The northwestern corner of Jewel Cave National Monument enters the sheet, while private landholdings like the X-T Ranch and Soper Ranch sit alongside remote settlements like Gillette. Water sources were critical for the cattle operations of the day, as evidenced by named draws and springs including Jumpoff Springs, Lost Spring, and Baldwin Spring. The map's production involved the Atomic Energy Commission, reflecting the era's interest in mineral resources within the Black Hills.