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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

The high peaks of the Black Mountains dominate this 1946 field examination, where the Cane River carves a path through the heart of the Pisgah National Forest. Small mountain settlements like Pensacola and Murchison anchor the valley, while higher elevations are marked by functional landmarks such as the Lookout Tower and Camp Alice. The map reveals a landscape defined by steep ridges and narrow coves, where travel was facilitated by a Toll Road and even an Aerial Tramway near the peak of the range.

Local history is preserved through numerous family-named landmarks and resting places, including the Penland Cem and Allen Cem. The topographic detail illustrates the complex hydrology of the region, tracing the numerous branches and creeks like Sugarhouse Cove and Walker Falls that feed into the main river system. This survey documents the area before mid-century modernization, showing the specific locations of the Murchison Ch and the specialized Beech Nursery situated on the slopes of the ridge.