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1959 Map of Tower Junction

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Tower Junction
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Tower Junction serves as the focal point for this 1959 survey of the northern backcountry within Yellowstone National Park. The map documents a landscape where early park infrastructure meets dramatic geological transitions, notably where the Lamar River joins the Yellowstone River near Junction Butte. Human presence is marked by historic sites such as Yanceys, Pleasant Valley, and the established Roosevelt Lodge, alongside administrative outposts like the Hellroaring Ranger Sta and the Slough Creek Patrol Cabins.

Thermal activity is mapped in detail, from the Calcite Springs (Hot) at The Narrows to the remote Washburn Hot Springs near Mount Washburn. The survey captures the transition from the high Buffalo Plateau down to the depths of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, tracing early routes like the Howard Eaton Trail and the Yellowstone River Trail that provided access before the modern road system was fully realized.