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1951 Map of Mt. Fillmore

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Mt. Fillmore
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1952
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1952

About this map

Gold mining history is etched into the steep drainages of the High Sierra, where the Plumas National Forest and Tahoe National Forest meet at the Plumas Co Sierra Co line. This 1951 field-checked survey reveals a landscape defined by hydraulic and hard-rock operations, from the Deadwood Diggings in the west to the Widesawake Mine and Nessler Mine near the Downie River. The map marks the location of Poker Flat and the Potosi (Site), suggesting a period when these once-active camps had transitioned to remote outposts or archaeological points of interest.

High peaks like Mt Fillmore and Mt Etna loom over a network of seasonal watercourses including Big Grizzly Creek and Slate Creek. The terrain is punctuated by isolated industrial landmarks, such as the California Mine and Bunker Hill Mine, and early forest infrastructure like the Lookout on Saddleback Mtn. The dense contour lines and numerous ravines, such as Studhorse Canyon and Pearson Ravine, illustrate the challenging geography that shaped the prospecting era in the northern mines.