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1956 Map of Preacher Spring

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Preacher Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Black Hills National Forest in Pennington County is defined by a complex network of draws and springs on this mid-century survey. Named for its critical water sources, the landscape features numerous isolated points like Preacher Spring, Briggs Spring, and White Spring, which served as vital markers in the timbered highlands. The Howell Ranch stands as a primary point of human habitation, situated near the confluence of several drainages including Redbird Draw and Antelope Draw.

Topographically, the area is dissected by deep ravines such as Gillette Canyon and Sled Canyon, leading toward the South Fork Castle Creek. Notable landmarks for researchers include Dumbuk Ridge and the Ice Cave, while the presence of Sixmile Canyon and the Sixmile Road suggests the established routes through the forest during the 1950s. The map captures a moment when the United States Atomic Energy Commission was active in the region, reflecting the era's focus on resource exploration within the Black Hills.