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1956 Map of Wheeler

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Wheeler
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Low and East Canal irrigation infrastructure dominates this 1950s landscape, illustrating the engineering efforts that transformed the semi-arid central Washington plateau. The settlement of Wheeler serves as a central hub, accompanied by a nearby Sugar Refinery and the Moses Lake Municipal Airport, indicating the intersection of industrial processing and modern transit during this era. The terrain is defined by a network of drainage channels such as Black Rock Coulee and Rocky Coulee, which cut through the landscape alongside extensive sand dunes to the southwest.

Transportation networks are heavily represented by the Northern Pacific and Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads, which converge and branch at key points like Bassett Junction and Tiflis. For local history researchers, the map identifies small rail stops and communities including Ritell, Sieler, and Atwood, alongside the Schultz Memorial Cem and a Drive-in Theater, providing a detailed look at mid-century community life in Grant County.