Published in 1963 from survey data gathered in 1961, the US Geological Survey’s “Deadwood North” captures a richly contoured portion of the northern Black Hills at a moment when South Dakota’s mining past, forested uplands, and expanding road networks still shared the same rugged stage. At 1:24,000 scale, the map offers an intimate topographical portrait of Deadwood and its surrounding country, using fine contour lines to reveal the steep folds, ridges, draws, and gulches that define this celebrated landscape. Its green woodland tint and pale open ground create an immediately legible contrast between forest and prairie, while roads, trails, streams, and elevation marks provide a precise view of how people moved through and settled this dramatic terrain.

The mapmaker, the United States Geological Survey, brought nearly a century of scientific authority to this sheet. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the nation’s principal interpreter of terrain, geology, water systems, and natural resources, producing maps that served explorers, engineers, land managers, military planners, researchers, and local communities alike. By the early 1960s, its quadrangle maps had become indispensable tools for understanding the American landscape at a highly practical scale. “Deadwood North” exemplifies this tradition: measured, clear, and rich with information, it translates a complex mountain environment into a disciplined cartographic language of contours, drainage, vegetation, and human access.

Deadwood itself lends the map much of its historical magnetism. Founded during the Black Hills Gold Rush of the 1870s, the town became one of the defining places of the American frontier, associated with prospectors, gamblers, lawmen, outlaws, and legends such as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. The surrounding hills were not merely a backdrop to this history; they shaped it. Gold-bearing gulches, steep approaches, timbered slopes, and narrow corridors of movement all influenced settlement patterns and mining activity. On this map, Deadwood appears within the landforms that made it famous, allowing the viewer to read the geography behind the mythic Wild West narrative.

Beyond Deadwood, the sheet evokes the wider Black Hills region, a landscape of profound natural beauty and deep cultural significance. The Black Hills are sacred to Native American nations, especially the Lakota, and their history cannot be separated from stories of treaty conflict, dispossession, resource extraction, and resilience. The map’s forested expanses, including areas associated with the Black Hills National Forest, reveal a landscape of dark pine-covered ridges, open prairies, creeks, and high points. Features such as Centennial Prairie, Gold Hill, and the broader presence of landmarks like Bear Butte situate the map within a region where geology, ecology, spirituality, and frontier history intersect.

Cartographically, “Deadwood North” is particularly appealing for the way it balances scientific exactitude with visual elegance. The green shading immediately identifies wooded terrain, while the light beige of open land creates a subtle but effective reading of vegetation and exposure. Closely spaced contour lines dramatize the hilly character of the Black Hills, making elevation changes almost palpable and showing how roads and trails thread through the most practical routes. Lakes, rivers, ridgelines, and geological forms emerge as part of a coherent terrain system. As a snapshot of the early 1960s, the map preserves the area before later waves of development further altered its relationship between town, forest, mining heritage, and wild land.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Deadwood
• Black Hills National Forest
• Centennial Prairie
• Gold Hill
• Bear Butte
• Numerous lakes and rivers
• Trails and roads depicted throughout the area
• Elevation points marked by contour lines
• Natural landmarks and specific geological features

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:24,000 topographical map shows Deadwood, the Black Hills, and the surrounding area in South Dakota.
• The underlying survey data was collected in 1961, and the map was published with a 1963 imprint.
• The USGS has been a key producer of reliable topographical maps since its founding in 1879.
• The Black Hills are known for their natural scenery and cultural heritage, particularly for Native American tribes.
• Deadwood is historically associated with the Gold Rush and Wild West history.
• The map uses a classic topographical style with contour lines to show elevation changes.
• Green shading indicates wooded areas, while light beige coloring represents open lands.
• The contouring highlights the hilly terrain characteristic of the Black Hills region.
• The map preserves an early 1960s snapshot of the landscape before later urbanization and industrial development transformed parts of the area.

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.