Snake River from the Huntington to the Seven Devils

Mapping the treacherous course of the Snake River in the late 19th century.

This series of strip maps captures the course of the Snake River as it meanders through the mountains between the Seven Devils Mining District (upper left) and the Union Pacific railroad line at Huntington, Oregon. Contoured topography captures the steep grade of the adjacent banks while contributing waterways, and significant hazards like rapids are carefully documented. Other interesting elements include an Indian Cave, Hot Sulphur Springs, and placer diggings.

Rich copper deposits were discovered in the late 19th-century, leading to federal efforts to explore river navigation in favor of laborious wagon trains. The rugged regional landscape, captured in the upper left inset, posed a significant obstacle. The ten-mile stretch known as Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America and commercial transportation was never ultimately realized.

The map was surveyed by Captain Thomas Symons of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Engraved by A. Downing and published by the U.S. Engineer Office in Portland, Oregon, in 1891.