1963 U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Map of Grand Teton National Park

Grand Tetons.

This is a 1963 U.S. Geological Survey map of Grand Teton National Park. The map illustrates a key development period where expanding tourism was presenting new challenges to the Park Service, which struggled to balance infrastructure, access, and development with environmental preservation. Among the most-visited national parks in the country, Grand Teton welcomes visitors all year and provides opportunities for numerous outdoor activities, including hiking and mountaineering, and is world-famous for trout fishing.

A Closer Look

Depicting the entirety of the park, a broad red line highlights the park's borders. Jackson, Wyoming (often misnamed Jackson Hole) appears near the bottom border. Jackson Lake immediately draws the viewer's attention. The Teton Mountain Range occupies the western portion of the park, and its iconic peaks are named, and their elevations are provided. Moran, a town located within the park, is identified, as are numerous lodges, ranches, and campgrounds.

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park was established in 1929 in northwestern Wyoming. It is renowned for its stunning mountain landscapes and diverse wildlife. The park dates to efforts by conservationists like John D. Rockefeller Jr., who played a crucial role in expanding the park. Initially, only the Teton Range and some surrounding lakes were protected, but in the 1940s, Rockefeller quietly purchased over 35,000 acres of land in the Jackson Hole Valley and donated it to the federal government. This led to the park's expansion in 1950, two years before this map was made, creating the Grand Teton National Park as it is known today. The park preserves the dramatic Teton Range and the cultural history of Native Americans, early pioneers, and fur trappers who once inhabited the region.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1963. This map is well represented in institutional collections.

Cartographer

The United States Geological Survey (March 3, 1879 - present), commonly abbreviated USGS, is an American federal scientific bureau and civilian mapping agency within the Department of the Interior, established in Washington, D.C., and subsequently headquartered in Reston, Virginia. Congress created the Survey to classify public lands and investigate the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain, replacing separate western investigations with a permanent scientific organization. Its first director, Clarence King (1842 - 1901), organized geological investigations and recruited experienced scientists and topographers from earlier federal surveys. Under his successor, John Wesley Powell (1834 - 1902), director from 1881 to 1894, topographic mapping expanded from support for individual geological investigations into a nationwide undertaking. Congressional authorization in 1882 to continue preparation of a geological map of the United States extended the Survey's work into the eastern states, while systematic topographic mapping received authorization in 1884. Henry Gannett (1846 - 1914), the Survey's chief geographer, helped establish enduring methods and standards for this work. Its topographic quadrangles represented terrain through contour lines alongside drainage, settlements, roads, and other features, furnishing a common geographic foundation for scientific investigation and practical land use. During the 20th century, the Survey's mapping evolved from field surveying and compilation toward aerial photography, photogrammetry, and digital geographic information systems. A formal program begun in 1947 to map the conterminous United States at 1:24,000 scale culminated in nationwide coverage in 1992, comprising more than 55,000 maps. The Survey also produced geological and thematic maps and assembled national geographic information. In 2009 it introduced US Topo, a digitally generated successor to its traditional topographic quadrangles. Its continuing cartographic work includes The National Map, digital topographic products, and public access to historical quadrangles, alongside broader investigations of water, ecosystems, mineral and energy resources, and natural hazards.   Further Details...

Condition

Good. Soiling. 2 Closed tears extending .75 inch into printed area professionally repaired on verso. Text on verso.

References

OCLC 1065550884, 1306239500, 1398353879.