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1954 Map of Pactola Dam

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Pactola Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Pactola Reservoir and its associated dam and spillway dominate this 1954 topographical study, representing a significant period of water management in the Black Hills National Forest. The landscape is a network of gulches and peaks, where Rapid Creek winds through the center of the sheet, past an Abandoned Flume and the powerhouse. Several recreational and educational outposts are established along the waterways, including Placerville Camp, Tomaha Camp, and the Wheaton College Summer Camp.

Tracing the historical infrastructure reveals the Thunderhead Falls Tunnel and a Gaging Station near Big Bend, while heights like Norris Peak are capped with a Lookout Tower. Further south, the Bald Hills transition into the drainages of Spring Creek and South Victoria Creek, punctuated by landmarks such as the Twin Sisters and Victoria Dam. This era of the Black Hills is characterized by this blend of emerging reservoir infrastructure and established mountain settlements like Johnson and Hisega.