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1966 Map of Rattlesnake Springs

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Rattlesnake Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Moses Coulee dominates this mid-1960s landscape at the boundary of Douglas and Grant Counties, revealing a dramatic geomorphology shaped by ancient floods. The quadrangle is marked by a network of steep canyons and water sources, including Rattlesnake Springs, Mineral Spring, and Bell Spring, which historically supported life in this arid region. The presence of Three Devils Grade indicates the challenging engineering required to traverse the elevation changes between the coulee floor and the surrounding plateaus.

Evidence of human activity is found in the scattered infrastructure of the era, from a Gravel Pit near the eastern boundary to a Dry Well in the northern reaches. The map also traces various jeep trails that wind through the terrain, connecting isolated landmarks like Steamboat Rock and the drainage of McCartney Creek. These details provide a clear picture of the land-use patterns and natural resource locations as they existed prior to further modernization.