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1953 Map of Picture

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Picture
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The John Day River carves a deep path through the high desert of Central Oregon, defining the geological character of the Wheeler and Grant county line. This mid-century survey reveals a landscape where ranching life and scientific preservation coexist. The map highlights the early footprints of the John Day Fossil Beds State Park and the Picture Gorge Fossil Beds State Park, protecting world-renowned paleontological sites like Goose Rock and Sheep Rock.

Remote outposts and pioneer-era dwellings are scattered throughout the basins, including the Old Johnson Cabin, Old Armunger Cabin, and Old Watkins Cabin. These named locations, alongside established operations like the McDonald Ranch and Mascall Ranch, provide a detailed record of human settlement in the Artman Basin and Big Basin during the early 1950s. The intricate network of springs, such as Rimrock Spr and Cal Smith Spr, illustrates the vital importance of water sources in this arid high-country terrain.