1960 Map of Quinn Table SW

About this map

Badlands National Monument dominates the southern and eastern stretches of this South Dakota landscape, where the dramatic erosion of the Great Plains is captured in intricate contour. The plateau known as Quinn Table extends across the northern reaches, providing a stark contrast to the deeply dissected drainages of Beaver Creek and Dry Creek. This 1960 field-checked survey was conducted as part of the Department of the Interior program for the development of the Missouri River Basin, documenting the sparse infrastructure of Pennington County during the mid-century. Human activity is localized to features like the Jobgen Sch and a Gravel Pit near the headwaters of South Fork Sage Creek. The transition from the flat expanse of Scenic Table into the complex breaks of the badlands illustrates the unique geological character of this region before modern developments.