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1959 Map of West Myrtle Butte

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

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Malheur National Forest dominates the high-elevation landscape of this late 1950s survey, where the rugged timberlands of Grant and Harney counties meet. The map reveals a remote ranching economy defined by isolated outposts and seasonal mountain camps. Notable sites for family history include the Old Dole Smith Homestead and Peabody Homestead, alongside working operations like the H J Baker Ranch and Clemens Ranch.

Topographic interest centers on West Myrtle Butte and the surrounding high meadows, including Myrtle Park and Craddock Meadows. This era captures the land before extensive modern road development, showing a network of trails and primitive landings used for forest management and livestock grazing. Numerous springs, such as Hole-in-the-Ground Spring and Izee Spring, provide the critical water sources for the cattle operations that shaped this high-desert frontier.