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1956 Map of Yosemite

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Yosemite
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

El Capitan and Half Dome tower over the valley floor in this mid-century survey of the high Sierra landscape. The map details the early development of recreational infrastructure, from the Badger Pass Ski Area to several established campgrounds such as Stovepipe Campground and Crowsfoot Campground. A network of early automobile routes including Wawona Road and Glacier Point Road provides access to world-famous natural features, while administrative points like Chinquapin Ranger Sta and the South Entrance Sta mark the management of the park's expanding traffic.

Southern reaches of the map highlight the Mariposa Grove Big Tree Giant Sequoias near the Madera County line. The settlement patterns around Wawona, including North Wawona and South Wawona, show a concentration of human activity near the Merced River. This era reflects the park during a period of peak post-war tourism growth, evidenced by the density of named peaks, trails, and water features like Illilouette Fall and Mirror Lake.