1955 Map of Mt. Coolidge

About this map

The rugged topography of the Black Hills is meticulously detailed in this 1955 survey, which was produced in collaboration with the Atomic Energy Commission. Centered on the high elevation of Mt Coolidge, the landscape is dominated by the intersection of three major protected areas: Custer State Park, the Black Hills National Forest, and Wind Cave National Park. A prominent Lookout Tower stands atop Rankin Ridge in the south, providing a strategic vantage point over the complex drainage systems of French Creek and the bifurcated North Fork Lame Johnny Creek. The small settlement of Blue Bell serves as a primary human landmark amidst the dense forest and winding waterways like Flynn Creek, illustrating the early mid-century infrastructure and land management of this South Dakota wilderness.