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1965 Map of Mc Ginnis Butte

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Mc Ginnis Butte
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

McGinnis Butte stands as the primary landmark in this remote section of Garfield County, overlooking a landscape defined by seasonal drainages and essential water sources. The map, based on 1964 aerial photography, reveals the vital role of natural springs in this arid region, marking both Peterson Spring and Geyser Spring. These water points, along with the winding course of Big Dry Creek and McGinnis Creek, likely served as critical infrastructure for the scattered ranching operations indicated by the network of fence lines.

Evidence of resource exploration is visible through several Drill Holes located near the intersection of the T. 14 N. and T. 13 N. township boundaries. The presence of named geographic features like Gumbo Ridge and Peterson Coulee speaks to a localized naming tradition among the inhabitants who navigated this varied terrain before the mid-1960s. The survey meticulously documents the relationship between the rugged topography and the thin margins of water provided by Calf Creek and Day Coulee.