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1967 Map of Virtue Flat

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Virtue Flat
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

The Oregon Trail cuts a diagonal path through this portion of Baker County, a landscape defined by its mining history and complex water management. This mid-century survey illustrates the intense concentration of mineral claims south of Flagstaff Hill, where operations like the Flagstaff Mine, Virtue Mine, and Emma Mine once sought fortune. The proximity of the Oregon Trail Historical Monument highlights the intersection of pioneer migration routes with the industrial extraction that followed.

Water systems, essential for both mining and the Lower Powder Valley to the north, are well-documented through infrastructure such as the Basche Ditch and Duncan Ditch. The terrain is characterized by deep ravines like Quartz Gulch and Flagstaff Gulch, which drain toward the open expanse of Virtue Flat. To the south, Lone Pine Mtn stands as a prominent landmark overlooking a network of smaller workings, including the St Paul Mine and Friday Mine.