1984 Map of South Pass

About this map

South Pass City and Atlantic City anchor this high-desert landscape in the mid-1980s, marking the historic gateway where the Continental Divide meets the northern reach of the Great Divide Basin. This area is defined by its transit and extraction history, with the paths of the Oregon Trail and Emigrant Trail cutting across the terrain near modern mining operations like the U S Steel facility. The map documents a significant concentration of lode and placer mining history north of the Antelope Hills, including the Franklin Mine, Tabor Grand Mine, and Bullion Mine. Hydrographic patterns are dominated by the Sweetwater River and its numerous tributaries such as Willow Creek and Rock Creek, which contrast with the arid flats of the Alkali Basin and the isolated peaks of Crooks Mountain. This survey provides a look at the intersection of pioneer migration routes and 20th-century industrial use in the Wind River Range foothills.