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1891 Map of Pyramid Peak

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Pyramid Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1891
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1891

About this map

The High Sierra landscape around Lake Tahoe is documented here during the late nineteenth century, a period when the region was defined by early resort outposts and rugged mountain transit. The southwestern shores of the lake are clearly marked with historic stops such as Tallac, Yanks, and the picturesque Emerald Bay. Inland, the terrain is dotted with early settler family names and remote stations like Uncle Toms Cabin and Phillips, indicating the early human footprint before the era of modern development.

Strategic passage through the mountains is illustrated by the Strawberry Valley Road and the presence of workers at Ditch Camp 7 and Ditch Camp 10, hinting at the significant water and infrastructure projects of the era. Higher elevations reveal a landscape of granite and water, featuring Glen Alpine Springs and numerous alpine basins like Devils Basin. These features, alongside landmarks like Tragedy Spring and Kirkwood, provide essential data for those tracing the early trails and pioneering settlements of the Sierra Nevada.