1954 Map of Pactola Dam

About this map

Pactola Reservoir dominates the western edge of this mid-century survey, its waters held by the Pactola Dam and managed via a nearby Spillway and Gaging Station. The landscape is a mix of rugged peaks and deep gulches within the Black Hills National Forest, where the transition from earlier industrial uses to mid-century recreation is evident. Evidence of older hydraulic engineering persists with the Abandoned Flume winding through the hills toward the Powerhouse near Big Bend. Educational and social outposts like Wheaton College Summer Camp, Placerville Camp, and Tomaha Camp signify the area's development as a retreat destination. Water remains the primary shaper of the terrain, from the narrow Dark Canyon to the winding courses of Rapid Creek and Victoria Creek, the latter featuring the smaller Victoria Dam.