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1946 Map of Shining Rock

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Shining Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1947
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1947

About this map

The high ridges of the Pisgah National Forest dominate this 1946 field examination, showcasing a landscape defined by dramatic elevations and deep water prongs. The newly established Blue Ridge Parkway winds through the northern portion of the quadrangle, crossing Wagon Road Gap and signaling the era's transition toward mountain tourism and accessibility. Higher peaks such as Shining Rock and Black Balsam Knob stand as prominent landmarks above the East Fork Pigeon River.

Local landmarks provide evidence of the region's managed wilderness and scattered human activity, including the Fish Rearing Station on the Davidson River and the Pilot Mtn Lookout Tower to the south. Notable geological features like Looking Glass Rock and the cascades of Looking Glass Falls are documented alongside family-named clearings like Picklesimer Fields, reflecting the intersection of public forest management and lingering local geography.