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1950 Map of Washington

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Washington
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The South Yuba River cuts through this portion of the Tahoe National Forest, revealing a landscape heavily shaped by nineteenth-century hydraulic mining and early twentieth-century hydroelectric development. The settlement of Washington sits at the river's edge, while the surrounding ridges are scarred by the extensive Alpha Diggings and Omega Diggings. These massive debris fields, along with the Blue Lead Mine and Zeibright Mine, reflect the intense search for gold-bearing gravels.

Transport and water infrastructure dominate the terrain, including the Cascade Canal, Yuba Canal, and various flumes that diverted water to sites like the Drum Powerhouse and Deer Creek Powerhouse. Former centers of activity are noted as archaeological locations, such as the Junction House (Site) and Towle Mill Site. Genealogical interest is found at the remote settlement of Relief and the isolated Cem near Logan Canyon.