1954 Map of Waynesville

About this map

Waynesville and the burgeoning community of St Robert anchor this mid-century survey of the Ozark Highlands, captured just as the region's infrastructure was expanding around Fort Leonard Wood. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the Gasconade River and Roubidoux Creek, which carve deep hollows like Pippin Hollow and Shockley Hollow into the terrain. Local history and genealogy are well-represented by numerous family cemeteries, including Trower Cem and Laughlin Cem, alongside rural landmarks such as Gospel Ridge Union Church and the Old Indian Lead Mine. The map shows a transition from traditional rural life to a military-industrial economy, evidenced by the presence of the Waynesville Memorial Airfield and the Mark Twain National Forest boundary, while the route of U.S. 66 cuts across the center, marking the era's primary transportation artery.