Rare Old Map of Black Mountain, North Carolina by USGS, 1941: Swannanoa River, Lake Tomahawk & Blue Ridge Parkway
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1965 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored in London • Printed and framed in the UK
Restored from the original 1965 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
Own a piece of history
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Titled “Black Mountain,” this 1:24,000 topographic map was originally surveyed in 1941 and published with a 1965 imprint, preserving a mid-century view...
Continue readingTitled “Black Mountain,” this 1:24,000 topographic map was originally surveyed in 1941 and published with a 1965 imprint, preserving a mid-century view of one of western North Carolina’s most evocative Appalachian landscapes. Centered on the town of Black Mountain, east of Asheville, it captures a place where settlement, mountain tourism, and rugged terrain converge. The map’s scale allows for close attention to roads, trails, waterways, and relief, making it both a scientific document and a richly detailed portrait of a mountain community. In its contours and place names, it records the relationship between the built environment and the steep ridges, coves, and valleys that shaped daily movement through the region.
Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, the map reflects the agency’s celebrated commitment to precision, consistency, and field-based observation. The USGS topographic series became indispensable to engineers, geologists, planners, hikers, and land managers, offering standardized visual language for the American landscape. Here, that language is especially compelling: closely spaced contour lines trace the abrupt climbs around Black Mountain, while watercourses, roads, forested areas, and settlement patterns are carefully distinguished. The result is not merely a map of location, but a map of form—one that reveals how elevation, drainage, and access define the character of the southern Appalachians.
The populated place of Black Mountain appears amid a dramatic setting of ridges and valleys, with the Swannanoa River providing one of the area’s defining natural corridors. Lake Tomahawk, roads, creeks, and surrounding forest areas give the map a layered sense of community life embedded within mountain terrain. Lookout Mountain and Buckeye Ridge evoke the steep, enclosing landforms that rise around the town, while the nearby presence of Asheville and Enka situates Black Mountain within a broader regional network. The cartography invites close reading: every bend in a stream, turn in a road, and compression of contour lines suggests the practical realities of travel and habitation in this upland landscape.
Beyond the town itself, the map reaches into the larger Blue Ridge world, including notable features associated with the region’s scenic and ecological significance. Craggy Gardens, Mount Mitchell, and the Blue Ridge Parkway connect the sheet to some of the most iconic highland landscapes in the eastern United States. Mount Mitchell, the highest summit east of the Mississippi River, anchors the wider geography with a sense of altitude and grandeur, while the Parkway represents a major twentieth-century effort to frame Appalachian scenery for public enjoyment. In this context, the map becomes a record of both natural prominence and the expanding infrastructure of conservation, recreation, and scenic travel.
As a historical document, “Black Mountain” offers a valuable glimpse of western North Carolina at a moment of transition. The 1941 survey captures a landscape shaped by older roads, mountain settlements, forested slopes, and waterways before later decades of development further altered the region. Its 1965 publication date also places it within a period when outdoor recreation, regional planning, and environmental awareness were becoming increasingly important. Comparing its details with the modern landscape reveals changes in land use, infrastructure, vegetation, and community growth. Yet the enduring structure of the terrain—the ridges, river valleys, and mountain passes—remains unmistakable, giving the map a timeless geographic authority.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Black Mountain
- Swannanoa River
- Lake Tomahawk
- Lookout Mountain
- Craggy Gardens
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Mount Mitchell
- Buckeye Ridge
- Asheville noted nearby
- Enka noted nearby
- Forest areas
- Streams and creeks
- Various roads and trails
- Notable parks or protected areas
Historical context & cartographic details
- Historical 1:24,000 topographical map showing Black Mountain, North Carolina, and the surrounding area
- Dated 1941 with a 1965 imprint
- Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
- USGS is known for scientific research and mapping of natural resources and natural hazards
- Reflects precise data collection and mapping techniques used to document geological and hydrological features
- Shows Appalachian ridges, valleys, waterways, and mountainous terrain
- Uses classic USGS cartographic style, including contour lines to represent elevation
- Employs varied colors to distinguish landforms, vegetation, and other map features
- Illustrates significant elevation changes typical of the Black Mountain area
- Provides historical insight into infrastructure, vegetation, and land use in the early to mid-20th century
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.
Titled “Black Mountain,” this 1:24,000 topographic map was originally surveyed in 1941 and published with a 1965 imprint, preserving a mid-century view of one of western North Carolina’s most evocative Appalachian landscapes. Centered on the town of Black Mountain, east of Asheville, it captures a place where settlement, mountain tourism, and rugged terrain converge. The map’s scale allows for close attention to roads, trails, waterways, and relief, making it both a scientific document and a richly detailed portrait of a mountain community. In its contours and place names, it records the relationship between the built environment and the steep ridges, coves, and valleys that shaped daily movement through the region.
Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, the map reflects the agency’s celebrated commitment to precision, consistency, and field-based observation. The USGS topographic series became indispensable to engineers, geologists, planners, hikers, and land managers, offering standardized visual language for the American landscape. Here, that language is especially compelling: closely spaced contour lines trace the abrupt climbs around Black Mountain, while watercourses, roads, forested areas, and settlement patterns are carefully distinguished. The result is not merely a map of location, but a map of form—one that reveals how elevation, drainage, and access define the character of the southern Appalachians.
The populated place of Black Mountain appears amid a dramatic setting of ridges and valleys, with the Swannanoa River providing one of the area’s defining natural corridors. Lake Tomahawk, roads, creeks, and surrounding forest areas give the map a layered sense of community life embedded within mountain terrain. Lookout Mountain and Buckeye Ridge evoke the steep, enclosing landforms that rise around the town, while the nearby presence of Asheville and Enka situates Black Mountain within a broader regional network. The cartography invites close reading: every bend in a stream, turn in a road, and compression of contour lines suggests the practical realities of travel and habitation in this upland landscape.
Beyond the town itself, the map reaches into the larger Blue Ridge world, including notable features associated with the region’s scenic and ecological significance. Craggy Gardens, Mount Mitchell, and the Blue Ridge Parkway connect the sheet to some of the most iconic highland landscapes in the eastern United States. Mount Mitchell, the highest summit east of the Mississippi River, anchors the wider geography with a sense of altitude and grandeur, while the Parkway represents a major twentieth-century effort to frame Appalachian scenery for public enjoyment. In this context, the map becomes a record of both natural prominence and the expanding infrastructure of conservation, recreation, and scenic travel.
As a historical document, “Black Mountain” offers a valuable glimpse of western North Carolina at a moment of transition. The 1941 survey captures a landscape shaped by older roads, mountain settlements, forested slopes, and waterways before later decades of development further altered the region. Its 1965 publication date also places it within a period when outdoor recreation, regional planning, and environmental awareness were becoming increasingly important. Comparing its details with the modern landscape reveals changes in land use, infrastructure, vegetation, and community growth. Yet the enduring structure of the terrain—the ridges, river valleys, and mountain passes—remains unmistakable, giving the map a timeless geographic authority.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Black Mountain
- Swannanoa River
- Lake Tomahawk
- Lookout Mountain
- Craggy Gardens
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Mount Mitchell
- Buckeye Ridge
- Asheville noted nearby
- Enka noted nearby
- Forest areas
- Streams and creeks
- Various roads and trails
- Notable parks or protected areas
Historical context & cartographic details
- Historical 1:24,000 topographical map showing Black Mountain, North Carolina, and the surrounding area
- Dated 1941 with a 1965 imprint
- Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
- USGS is known for scientific research and mapping of natural resources and natural hazards
- Reflects precise data collection and mapping techniques used to document geological and hydrological features
- Shows Appalachian ridges, valleys, waterways, and mountainous terrain
- Uses classic USGS cartographic style, including contour lines to represent elevation
- Employs varied colors to distinguish landforms, vegetation, and other map features
- Illustrates significant elevation changes typical of the Black Mountain area
- Provides historical insight into infrastructure, vegetation, and land use in the early to mid-20th century
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.
Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.
Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.
We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.
- We can deliver directly to the recipient
- Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
- Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
- Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
- 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide
If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
We’ve been restoring and producing maps and art prints since 1984, and we stand behind every piece.
Every order is covered by our 10-year guarantee and damage-free delivery guarantee. If your piece arrives damaged, we’ll replace or remake it free of charge. If anything else isn’t right, contact our workshop team and we’ll put it right promptly.
See our returns and refund policy for full details.
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