Published in 1965 from 1948 survey work, the “Deer Park Topographical Map” presents a finely observed US Geological Survey portrait of western Maryland’s Deep Creek Lake country. At 1:24,000 scale, it captures the intricate relationship between water, ridge, valley, road, and settlement in one of the state’s most dramatic upland landscapes. Deep Creek Lake, the map’s commanding feature, spreads across the sheet in branching coves and narrow inlets, framed by wooded slopes and high ground. Around it appear Thayerville, Swanton, Blocher, Bittinger, Marsh Hill, and other communities whose positions reveal the practical geography of mountain travel and lakeside development. The map preserves a mid-twentieth-century moment, when recreation, forestry, rural life, and hydrographic engineering were all shaping Garrett County’s identity.

The US Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined precision that made its quadrangles indispensable to engineers, planners, hikers, land managers, and historians. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the federal authority for mapping the nation’s terrain, and its topographic sheets combined scientific rigor with a distinct visual elegance. Here, contour lines articulate the rise and fall of the Allegheny Plateau with exceptional clarity, gathering tightly along steeper slopes and relaxing across gentler uplands. Green woodland tinting emphasizes the area’s forested character, while roads, streams, park boundaries, and settlement names are layered with restraint. The result is both a working document and a subtle landscape portrait: a map in which every curve of elevation and bend of watercourse contributes to a larger geographic narrative.

Deep Creek Lake gives the map much of its historical resonance. Created in the 1920s as part of a hydroelectric project, the lake soon became a recreational landmark, attracting cabins, boating, fishing, and later resort development. The 1948 geography recorded here shows the area at a formative stage, before decades of expansion transformed the shoreline and surrounding communities. Thayerville and Marsh Hill mark important nodes of access, while county roads trace the developing network that connected visitors and residents to the lake’s coves, ridges, and state park lands. Deep Creek State Park and nearby recreational areas signal the region’s growing public identity as a mountain retreat. The map therefore documents not only terrain, but the early infrastructure of leisure in Maryland’s high country.

Beyond the lake, the sheet reveals a richly textured Appalachian landscape shaped by water and elevation. The Youghiogheny River and tributaries such as Wolf Den Run and Cabin Run thread through valleys and hollows, their courses guided by the folded, resistant terrain of western Maryland. Crabtree Falls and Eagle Rock evoke the rugged natural features that give the region its scenic reputation, while Herrington Manor State Park points to an enduring tradition of conservation and outdoor recreation. Contours depict ridges, bowls, and drainage divides with remarkable immediacy, allowing the viewer to read the landscape almost as if standing above it. The map’s topographic language makes visible the hidden architecture of the land: slopes, watersheds, passes, and the practical routes that negotiate them.

As a historical document, this map offers a compelling benchmark for understanding change around Deep Creek Lake and the Deer Park region. Its roads and place names preserve a rural pattern of farms, crossroads, forest tracts, and small communities, while its parklands and lake access routes hint at the recreational economy that would become increasingly important in the later twentieth century. The imprint date of 1965 gives the sheet an additional layer of interest, reflecting the continued usefulness of the 1948 survey data in a period when American outdoor recreation, highway access, and land management were rapidly evolving. For collectors of American topography, Maryland history, or Appalachian landscapes, it is a richly informative view of a beloved mountain-lake region at a pivotal moment.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Deep Creek Lake
• Kittle’s Raccoon
• Swanton
• Herrington Manor State Park
• Blocher
• Bittinger
• Thayerville
• Eagle Rock
• Youghiogheny River
• Marsh Hill
• Deep Creek State Park
• Wolf Den Run
• Crabtree Falls
• Cabin Run
• County roads and access routes to various nature sites and recreational areas

Historical context & cartographic details

• Deer Park Topographical Map
• Produced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:24,000 topographical map of western Maryland
• Dated 1948 and published with a 1965 imprint
• Created by the US Geological Survey, known for accurate geographic data and topographical mapping in the United States
• Features contour lines that clearly show elevation changes
• Uses green hues to indicate varying terrain types
• Depicts valleys, hills, and ridges through detailed topographic contouring
• Reflects the geographical layout of the area as of 1948
• Provides insight into changes in development, natural resource management, and recreational land use over time

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.