Loading map...

1922 Map of Mammoth Cave

Name: 1922 Topographic Map of Mammoth Cave
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The Green River and Nolin River wind through a complex karst landscape during the early 1920s, a period when this region was transitioning toward its eventual national park status. The map highlights the concentration of subterranean landmarks such as Mammoth Cave, Colossal Cave, and Great Onyx Cave, while the surface is defined by a dense network of one-room schoolhouses like Sand Spring School and Stockholm School. Transportation relies heavily on the river, with numerous crossings including Houchins Ferry, Sanders Ferry, and Mouth of Buffalo Ferry.

Further south, the landscape shifts as it meets the Louisville and Nashville railroad corridor. Here, established settlements like Smiths Grove, Oakland, and Rocky Hill anchor the local economy. The detailed topographic shading illustrates the unique geography of the area, from the dramatic Turnhole Bend to the numerous sinkholes like Cedar Sink and Monroe Sink that pock the terrain, offering a clear view of the relationship between the limestone geology and the placement of rural communities and churches.