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1949 Map of Sullivan

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Sullivan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

The St Louis San Francisco railroad cuts through this Ozark plateau landscape, anchoring the growth of Sullivan and Bourbon during the late 1940s. The topography is defined by the winding course of the Meramec River, which carved out subterranean landmarks like Onondaga Cave, Fisher Cave, and Cathedral Cave. These geological features established the area as a destination for recreation, seen in the development of Meramec State Park and St Anthony Camp.

Away from the river banks, the map reveals a rural network of schoolhouses and remote settlements. Local history is preserved in names like Reeds Defeat Sch, Anthonies Mill, and the Old Christy Mine. From the timbered slopes of Clark National Forest to the small farming communities near Elmont, the sheet illustrates a transition from industrial resource extraction to a burgeoning mid-century tourism economy centered on the river's unique karst features.