{"product_id":"old-map-of-fontana-lake-north-carolina-by-usgs-1933-bushnell-gap-leister-great-smoky-mountains","title":"Old Map of Fontana Lake, North Carolina by USGS, 1933 – Bushnell, Gap Leister \u0026 Great Smoky Mountains","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1933, the US Geological Survey’s “Bushnell” presents a finely observed 1:62,500 topographical portrait of a mountainous corner of western North Carolina, including the valleys and river corridors that would later be transformed by Fontana Lake. The map belongs to the classic USGS quadrangle tradition: practical, scientific, and quietly beautiful, with contour lines translating steep ridges, narrow hollows, and folded Appalachian terrain into a precise visual language. Its date is especially evocative, capturing the landscape before the construction of Fontana Dam in the 1940s, when flood control, hydroelectric power, and wartime industrial demand dramatically reshaped this part of the Little Tennessee River basin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US Geological Survey, founded in 1879, became the nation’s preeminent authority for mapping landforms, mineral resources, waterways, and settlement patterns. By the early twentieth century, its quadrangles were indispensable tools for engineers, foresters, planners, hikers, and local officials, offering a level of terrain intelligence unmatched by ordinary road maps. “Bushnell” reflects that institutional rigor: elevations are rendered through disciplined contouring, streams and valleys are carefully articulated, and small communities are placed within the larger structure of the land. The map is not merely a guide to where things were, but a scientific interpretation of how the region’s ridges, basins, and waterways governed movement, settlement, and development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the heart of the map is the area associated today with Fontana Lake, one of the most dramatic reservoirs in the southern Appalachians. Created after the completion of Fontana Dam, the lake became both a source of hydroelectric power and a striking scenic landmark, its long arms reaching into valleys enclosed by forested mountains. This earlier topographical record is therefore especially compelling: it preserves the pre-reservoir geography of a place whose appearance and human use would soon change profoundly. The contours suggest the steep-sided valleys that made dam construction possible, while the mapped waterways foreshadow the future lake’s branching form across the rugged landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe named places on the map, including Bushnell and Gap Leister, evoke the small-scale human geography of rural Appalachia before large infrastructure projects reoriented the region. Roads, trails, streams, and scattered settlements appear as modest threads across a demanding mountain environment. The map’s attention to mountains, lakes, valleys, and routes makes it particularly rich for understanding how people navigated terrain shaped by elevation and isolation. Trails and passes mattered deeply here, guiding travel through gaps and along ridgelines where direct passage was often impossible. In this sense, the map records not only natural features, but the lived logic of movement through a steep and intricate landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCartographically, “Bushnell” has the restrained elegance of early twentieth-century USGS design. Its earthy palette and meticulous contour work give the viewer an immediate sense of relief, slope, and drainage, while avoiding ornament in favor of clarity. That clarity is part of its luxury as a historical object: the map distills a complex Appalachian environment into a legible, authoritative composition. It captures a moment just before the New Deal and wartime infrastructure era remade the Tennessee Valley and its tributaries through dams, reservoirs, and power networks. As a historical image, it is both a technical survey and a quiet witness to a landscape on the brink of transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFontana Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGap Leister\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBushnell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLakes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMountains\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:62,500 topographical map shows Fontana Lake in North Carolina and the surrounding area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated in 1933.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublished by the US Geological Survey (USGS), which has been responsible for topographical mapping and geological studies in the United States since 1879.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFontana Lake is significant for its hydroelectric purposes and scenic beauty.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFontana Lake was created by the Fontana Dam, constructed during the 1940s for flood control and power generation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map uses a classic topographical style, with contour lines indicating elevation and landforms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEarthy tones reflect the natural landscape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe terrain shown includes mountains, valleys, and water bodies, with detailed elevation information.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map captures the area before major developments such as the construction of Fontana Dam, which altered the landscape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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 \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792118092160,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792118124928,"sku":null,"price":146.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792118157696,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792118190464,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792118223232,"sku":null,"price":146.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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