1952 Map of Westville

About this map

Tahoe National Forest terrain dominates this mid-century survey of Placer County, where the gold and timber legacy of the Sierra Nevada is etched across steep canyons. The landscape is defined by the deep incisions of the North Fork American River and its tributaries, revealing an intensive history of resource extraction. Dozens of adits and tunnels are documented, including the Herman Mine, Rawhide Mine, and Eureka Tunnel. The map captures the infrastructure of the era's mining and water management, featuring the Humbug Ditch and Wheeler Ditch winding along the ridgelines. Early settlements and homesteads like Westville, Dorer Ranch, and the Forks House (Site) provide critical points of reference for genealogists. The presence of the Maxwell Sawmill (Abandoned) and numerous hydraulic mining sites like Humbug Bar illustrates the industrial transition of the Forest Hill Divide during this period.