1955 Map of Mt. Coolidge

About this map

Mt. Coolidge dominates this section of the Black Hills, serving as a high-altitude landmark topped by a Lookout Tower. The 1955 survey reveals a complex landscape of protected lands where the Custer State Park, Black Hills National Forest, and Wind Cave National Park converge. This overlap of jurisdictional boundaries highlights the mid-century priority of conservation and resource management in South Dakota. Small outposts like Blue Bell and Galena provide focal points for human activity amidst a dense network of drainages, including the headwaters of the North Fork Lame Johnny Creek and the South Fork Lame Johnny Creek. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevation changes, notably toward Rankin Ridge, where the map details the rugged hydrology of French Creek and Flynn Creek.