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1955 Map of Overland Crossing

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

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The North Platte River winds through this mid-1950s Wyoming landscape, marked by the deep historical footprints of the Overland Trail. This survey documents a critical transition point for travelers at the Overland Crossing, where a historical monument and the Pioneer Cem signify the area's significance to westward migration. The river valley is punctuated by several former homesteads and livestock operations, including the Old Johnson Place, Old Mc Keal Place, and the Corpening Ranch, illustrating the legacy of early ranching in Carbon County.

Industrial activity appears alongside these homesteads in the form of the Banks Coal Mines and the Ream and Ramsey Mine located in the draws north of the river. The presence of numerous named drainages like Coal Mine Draw and Blydenburg Draw reveals a rugged drainage system feeding the Platte. The network of unimproved roads and a Jeep Trail suggests a terrain still largely defined by its natural contours and early pioneer routes.