1951 Map of McCleary Reservoir

About this map

The Oregon Trail cuts across the southeastern corner of this Natrona County landscape, marking the historic path of westward migration through a terrain defined by drainage draws and cattle ranching. Recorded in 1951, the map highlights the sparse but vital infrastructure of the era, including the CRI School and the UC Ranch. Water management is central to the area's utility, with features like McCleary Reservoir and Luten Reservoir situated among intermittent watercourses such as Henderson Creek and Shell Creek. The naming of Horse Heaven in the northwest and Burnt Wagon Draw in the north provides local color, suggesting the rugged character of the Wyoming rangeland. This survey captures a moment before modern development, where a single Pipe Line and a network of unimproved roads were the primary modifications to the vast drainage basins of Pino Draw and Meadow Creek.