{"product_id":"old-map-of-ogallala-nebraska-by-usgs-1971-lake-mcconaughy-north-platte-river","title":"Old Map of Ogallala, Nebraska by USGS, 1971 – Lake McConaughy \u0026 North Platte River","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitled “Ogallala,” this U.S. Geological Survey topographical map was created in 1971 and published with a 1974 imprint, capturing a defining stretch of western Nebraska at a moment of modern transition. Centered on Ogallala in Keith County, the map presents the town and its surrounding plains with the authoritative clarity characteristic of USGS 1:24,000 quadrangles. Roads, contours, waterways, reservoirs, and landforms are rendered in a disciplined visual language designed for precision, yet the result is also quietly evocative: a portrait of a community poised between frontier memory, agricultural life, and expanding recreation. The North Platte River and nearby Lake McConaughy anchor the composition, giving the sheet both geographical drama and historical depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOgallala occupies a storied place in the American imagination, long associated with westward migration, cattle trails, and the great overland routes that carried settlers toward the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Coast. As a former stop on the Oregon Trail and later a notable frontier town, it became a symbolic gateway to the West, where the open plains began to give way to broader ambitions of settlement and expansion. On this map, that layered history is translated into roads, rail corridors, river crossings, and the town grid itself. The surrounding highways and local routes show a twentieth-century landscape built over older pathways of movement, commerce, and migration, connecting Ogallala to the wider geography of Nebraska and the Great Plains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe North Platte River is one of the map’s essential features, winding through a landscape shaped by water, sediment, and time. Its valley has long served as a natural corridor across the plains, guiding Indigenous travel, emigrant trails, railroads, and modern transportation routes. The contour lines reveal the subtle but meaningful relief of the region: low hills, shallow valleys, terraces, and drainage patterns that distinguish this portion of Nebraska from the popular idea of an entirely flat prairie. These topographical details give the map a satisfying richness, showing how settlement and infrastructure responded to the land’s contours. Every bend of the river and graded rise records the intimate relationship between movement, water, and habitation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLake McConaughy, Nebraska’s largest reservoir, adds a striking modern dimension to the map’s historical landscape. Created by the Kingsley Dam on the North Platte River, the lake transformed the region by supporting irrigation, flood control, hydroelectric power, and recreation. By the early 1970s, the reservoir had become not only an engineering landmark but also a beloved destination for boating, fishing, camping, and lakeside leisure. Its presence on the map speaks to the evolving identity of western Nebraska, where agricultural utility and outdoor recreation meet. Parks and recreational areas around the lake hint at the growing importance of tourism and public access, marking a shift from purely working landscapes to shared scenic ones.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe USGS style gives “Ogallala” its enduring authority: a restrained palette, legible symbols, and carefully measured contour intervals combine to form a map of remarkable informational density. Since its founding in 1879, the U.S. Geological Survey has shaped how Americans understand their country’s terrain, producing maps that serve engineers, planners, scientists, travelers, and historians alike. This quadrangle belongs to that distinguished tradition, documenting a specific Nebraska landscape with scientific rigor while preserving the character of its time. Viewed today, it reveals the area’s development in the early 1970s, from the growth of Ogallala to the recreational emergence of Lake McConaughy, offering a finely detailed record of place, progress, and plains geography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOgallala\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLake McConaughy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNorth Platte River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeith County\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLincoln County\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHighways and roads connecting Ogallala and surrounding areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReservoirs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParks and recreational areas\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 as a historical 1:24,000 topographical map.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated in 1971 and published with a 1974 imprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe USGS has played a critical role in mapping the United States since its establishment in 1879.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOgallala is historically significant as a former stop on the Oregon Trail and is often viewed as a gateway to the West.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLake McConaughy is Nebraska’s largest reservoir and serves important recreational purposes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map uses a clear, functional USGS design, including contour lines and a standard color palette to show different land features.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe topography includes hills and valleys characteristic of the Plains region of Nebraska.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map reflects developments since the 1970s, including recreational changes around Lake McConaughy and the growth of Ogallala.\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=\"\/es\/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=\"\/es\/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=\"\/es\/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=\"\/es\/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":58781124067712,"sku":null,"price":83.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58781124100480,"sku":null,"price":224.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58781124133248,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58781124166016,"sku":null,"price":83.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58781124198784,"sku":null,"price":224.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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