1954 Map of Silver City

About this map

Silver City and Canyon City anchor this mid-century look at the Black Hills mining landscape during a period of significant hydrological change. The map documents the Pactola Reservoir while its shorelines were still being defined, with new construction noted along its eastern edges. Mining history is deeply etched into the topography here, with numerous shafts and claims such as the Homestake Mine, Diana Mine, and Queen Bee Mine scattered through the heavily gulched terrain. The rugged interior is further marked by isolated landmarks like Flannigan Cabin and the Bullock Lookout Tower on Scruton Mountain. This survey was conducted just as the Black Hills National Forest was adapting to modern infrastructure, evidenced by the "under construction" notation near the reservoir and the presence of the Pactola Sch, providing a detailed record of Pennington County's resource-driven settlements before they were further altered by 20th-century development.