1972 Map of John Day

About this map

The John Day River valley dominates this map, showing the area as it appeared in the early 1970s. The landscape around John Day and Canyon City reveals a heavy industrial history, particularly the extensive Dredge Tailings that line the riverbanks, left behind by massive gold dredging operations. This topographical survey preserves the footprint of resource extraction alongside civic life, featuring the Old Humboldt Diggings and Potato Patch Mine tucked into the southern gulches. Local history researchers will find several notable burial sites including Boot Hill Cem, Rest Lawn Cem, and St Andrews Cem. Transportation and entertainment landmarks of the era are also present, such as the John Day State Airport and a Drive-in Theater west of town. The transition from the river valley into the surrounding timbered heights is marked by numerous natural water sources like Davis Creek Springs and Big Springs, illustrating the vital water network that supported both mining and settlement.