1957 Map of Silverton

About this map

The Sauk River valley and the high peaks of the Cascade Range define this mid-century survey, which documents a landscape transitioning from resource extraction to mountain recreation. Mining activity is preserved in the records of the Bonanza Queen Mine and the St Louis Mine, while the growth of backcountry tourism is evident in a high density of forest camps such as Hemple Creek Campground, Sunnyside Camp, and Deer Creek Camp. The settlement of Silverton sits along the river, near the Silverton-Waldheim County School Camp, serving as a gateway to the steep ridges of Whitehorse Ridge and Wiley Ridge. Massive topographic features like Whitehorse Mtn and the iconic Three Fingers dominate the western half of the map, while the northeastern corner shows the rail-connected community of Darrington. These details show how early logging and mining infrastructure paved the way for the seasonal camping and mountain climbing culture of the late 1950s.