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1968 Map of Wilderness

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Wilderness
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Wilderness sits at a crossroads in the Missouri Ozarks, a small settlement surrounded by the deep drainages of the Mark Twain National Forest. This 1960s landscape is defined by its complex hydrology, where numerous upland ponds like Cotham Pond and Brawley Pond contrast with the rugged hollows feeding into larger systems. The presence of Falling Spring and the nearby Tumbling Shoal suggests a topography of significant elevation changes and active spring-fed watercourses.

Genealogists and local historians will find value in the location of the Freeman Cem near the northern border and the Sinking Creek Lookout Tower, which served as a vital observation point for the surrounding timberlands. The map preserves several evocative place names that hint at local industry and history, such as Gold Mine Hollow and Stillhouse Hollow, alongside the prominent Horseshoe Bend along the river in the southwest corner.