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1946 Map of Mt. Mitchell

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Mt. Mitchell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

Mt Mitchell stands as the highest point of this 1946 survey, surveying a landscape where the Pisgah National Forest and Mt Mitchell State Park meet at the boundary of Yancey and Buncombe counties. The upper reaches of the Cane River dominate the central valley, providing the primary corridor for small settlements like Pensacola and Murchison. These communities are defined by their local landmarks, including the Murchison Ch and several family cemeteries such as the Penland Cem and Ray Cem, which are tucked into the drainages of Turkey Ridge and Mill Creek Ridge.

Transitioning from the valley floor to the high ridges, the map documents the infrastructure of mid-century conservation and recreation. A Toll Gate is noted near Eskota, while a Lookout Tower and Camp Alice mark the approach to the summit. The terrain is a network of named peaks and gaps, from Big Butt and Point Misery to Rolling Camp Gap, illustrating the complex topography that isolated these mountain coves for generations.