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1955 Map of Norden

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Norden
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Donner Pass serves as the central focal point of this mid-1950s survey, illustrating the high-altitude infrastructure required to traverse the Sierra Nevada crest. The Southern Pacific railroad line is a prominent fixture, winding through the complex terrain with numerous snowsheds protecting the tracks near Norden. This era captures the region's duality as both a critical transportation corridor and an emerging recreation hub, featuring early ski infrastructure at Sugar Bowl alongside established landmarks like Donner Memorial State Park and Lake Mary.

High-country life is marked by isolated outposts such as the Peter Grubb Hut and several working ranches, including the 7 C Ranch and Circle E Ranch. The landscape is characterized by its dramatic peaks, including Mount Judah, Mt Lincoln, and Castle Peak, which feed numerous glacial lakes such as Lake Angela and Flora Lake. The map also preserves the location of the Old Stanford Wood Camp (Site) on the eastern edge, providing a link to the region's earlier industrial history.