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1957 Map of Mount Lemmon

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Mount Lemmon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The Santa Catalina Mts dominate the landscape of the late 1950s, rising sharply above the expanding northern reaches of Tucson. This topographic study details the dramatic transition from the high-altitude settlement at Summerhaven and the high peaks of Mount Lemmon down to the desert floor. In the mountains, hikers and miners frequented the Palisade Trail and Hartman Homestead Mines, while the southern foothills show a burgeoning network of institutions like the Southern Ariz Sch for Boys and the Immaculate Heart Novitiate.

Along the Rillito River and Tanque Verde Creek, the map captures the footprint of mid-century infrastructure, including the University of Arizona Farm and Fort Lowell Park. Named landmarks such as the Steam Pump Ranch and the Pontatoc Mine provide clear evidence of the region’s agricultural and extractive history. The detailed street grid beginning to push north toward the Pusch Ridge illustrates the early post-war residential growth that would eventually redefine the valley.