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1958 Map of Rolla

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Rolla
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Ozark Mountains and the mineral-rich St Francois Mountains dominate this mid-century landscape, revealing a region defined by its timber and mining heritage. The map documents the extensive reach of the Mark Twain National Forest and Clark National Forest, which blanket much of the interior. In the eastern portion, the industrial legacy of the Missouri lead belt is evident at the Iron Mountain Mine and Pilot Knob Mine, while the Missouri Pacific RR and St Louis-San Francisco RR provide the essential transport links for these resources.

Water plays a central role in the regional geography, from the spring-fed waters at Montauk State Park to the major reservoir at Wappapello Lake. The presence of Fort Leonard Wood in the northwest corner highlights the area's strategic importance during the Cold War era. For the local historian, the map preserves the exact locations of smaller communities like Eminence, Lesterville, and Fredericktown before modern highway expansions altered the traditional road patterns through the hollows.