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1952 Map of Wilderness

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Wilderness
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Wind River Indian Reservation landscape in the early 1950s is defined by a sophisticated network of water management features designed to harness the Wind River. This survey captures the vital irrigation infrastructure of the era, including the Dinwoody Canal, Lannigans Ditch, and Flume Ditch, which redirect water across the arid terrain of Fremont County. At the settlement of Wilderness, the river's flow is monitored by a Gaging Station, reflecting the systematic development of the Missouri River Basin project.

Terrain features like Dinwoody Ridge and the Moraine highlight the glacial legacy of the region, while numerous draws such as Sand Draw and Jenkins Draw carve through the elevation. Human presence is marked by isolated landmarks like a Ford crossing and a Footbridge near the river's edge, alongside an Aqueduct that serves the agricultural needs of the reservation. The map provides a precise record of how water rights and engineering transformed this high-desert environment.