Titled “Park City East,” this United States Geological Survey topographical map presents the mountainous country around Park City and Deer Valley, Utah, published in 1974 using survey data from 1955. That pairing of mid-century fieldwork and later imprint gives the map particular historical resonance: it captures the landscape before Park City’s modern transformation into an international winter-sports destination and cultural landmark. At a detailed 1:24,000 scale, the map records roads, trails, drainage lines, elevations, and settlements with the precision associated with USGS quadrangle mapping. Deer Valley appears not as the polished resort name it would later become, but as part of a rugged highland terrain of slopes, draws, ridgelines, and access routes—an evocative record of Utah’s Wasatch landscape on the cusp of dramatic recreational development.

The US Geological Survey, founded in 1879, became one of the great cartographic institutions of the modern world, charged with mapping the nation’s terrain, water systems, mineral resources, and public lands. Its topographic maps were designed for practical use by engineers, geologists, planners, foresters, hikers, and government agencies, yet they often possess an understated aesthetic beauty. “Park City East” reflects the USGS house style at its most legible: measured contour intervals articulate the rise and fall of the land, blue lines trace creeks and watercourses, and carefully classified roads and trails reveal patterns of movement through steep mountain country. The map is both scientific document and landscape portrait, translating Utah’s vertical terrain into a finely ordered graphic language.

The visual drama of this map lies in its treatment of elevation. Dense contour lines gather around slopes and ridges, widening where the land relaxes into flats or valleys, giving the viewer an immediate sense of Park City’s alpine character. Green tones indicate vegetated uplands and help distinguish natural land cover from developed or open areas, while shaded landforms and contouring create a subtle three-dimensional effect. Richardson Flat and the corridors leading toward Kamas and Heber City place Park City within the broader geography of the Wasatch Back, where mining routes, ranching landscapes, and mountain passes shaped settlement long before ski lifts and festival crowds arrived. The map’s precision makes it especially engaging for readers attuned to terrain, navigation, and the physical logic of place.

Historically, the map captures a region in transition. Park City had been founded as a mining town in the nineteenth century, its economy tied to silver and other mineral extraction in the surrounding mountains. By the mid-twentieth century, however, many mining districts across the American West were seeking new futures, and the steep terrain that once challenged miners would soon become the foundation for a recreation economy. Deer Valley, now synonymous with luxury skiing, appears here in a quieter form, embedded in the natural topography rather than defined by resort infrastructure. Seen from today’s perspective, “Park City East” offers a compelling before-image: a measured government survey of a place that would later become one of the most recognizable mountain destinations in the United States.

The map also rewards close study for the way it situates Park City among neighboring communities and routes. Kamas and Heber City anchor the wider regional setting, while Richardson Flat, local roads, trails, and unnamed creeks reveal the working geography of the area. The network of watercourses, rendered in blue, hints at snowmelt, seasonal drainage, and the hydrological systems that shape both settlement and recreation in the mountains. Ski areas are indicated as recreational features, underscoring the emerging importance of winter use in this landscape. Yet the dominant impression remains topographic: slope, elevation, ridge, and valley. Elegant in its clarity and rich in historical implication, “Park City East” is a cartographic snapshot of Utah’s high country before its modern identity had fully crystallized.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Deer Valley
• Park City
• Richardson Flat
• Kamas
• Heber City
• Ski areas
• Roads
• Trails
• Mountain ranges and peaks
• Water bodies, including creeks and unnamed water features
• Contours and elevation landmarks

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical topographical map produced by the United States Geological Survey.
• Shows Deer Valley and Park City in Utah, using data from 1955 and published with a 1974 imprint.
• Created by the USGS, an agency known for scientific research and mapping of the United States’ natural resources and landscape.
• Designed at a scale of 1:24,000.
• Uses contour lines to depict elevation changes, slopes, and terrain types.
• Includes shading and green elevation coloring to clarify landforms and topographical features.
• Reflects the development of recreational areas in Utah.
• Offers insight into geographical change and urban sprawl in the region since the mid-20th century.
• Clear contour lines and shaded relief emphasize the mountainous character of the area, useful for outdoor activities and navigation.

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.