1946 Map of Shining Rock

About this map

Pisgah National Forest encompasses this high-elevation landscape in the mid-1940s, where the headwaters of the North Fork French Broad River and Davidson River carve through the Southern Appalachian peaks. The map details a transition in mountain access, featuring the Blue Ridge Parkway winding along the heights near Black Balsam Knob. Local resource management and land use are evidenced by the Fish Rearing Station along the Davidson River and a Lookout Tower positioned atop Pilot Mtn. The terrain is defined by a series of prominent ridges including Ivestor Ridge and Graveyard Ridge, leading toward the distinct white quartz of Shining Rock. Traces of earlier industry remain visible through labels for a Silvermine and an unspecified Mine on the lower slopes, while various gaps like Ivestor Gap and Gloucester Gap mark the traditional transit routes through these steep divides.