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1892 Map of Kaaterskill

Name: 1892 Topographic Map of Kaaterskill
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The northern Catskills landscape in the late nineteenth century is defined here by its rapid transition from wilderness to a refined mountain retreat. The famous Mountain House stands near North Lake and South Lake, overlooking the steep cloves and the dramatic Kaaterskill Falls. This era saw the establishment of exclusive residential enclaves like Onteora Park, Twilight Park, and Elka Park, which were served by a specialized rail network including the Elevating R. R. and the U. & D. R. R. through Kaaterskill Junction.

Away from the resort hotels, the map documents a network of small post offices and rural hamlets such as Platt Clove P.O., Wittenberg P.O., and Dutch Settlement. The high peaks, including Hunter Mt. and Plateau Mountain, are carved by dramatic geological features like Stony Clove and Hunter Notch, while the southern reaches near Woodstock show a landscape of creeks and small settlements like Bearsville and Yankeetown before the development of modern reservoirs.