1956 Map of Ackerman Canyon

About this map

High-altitude basin ranching and isolated mining operations define this mid-century look at the central Nevada landscape along the Lander and Eureka county line. The terrain is dominated by the steep drainages of Ackerman Canyon and Cow Canyon, which flow out of the central highlands toward the expansive Bean Flat to the east and Grass Valley to the west. Evidence of the region’s sparse but enduring settlement is found at family-named outposts like Santa Fe Ranch, Ferguson Ranch, and Indian Ranch. In the southwest corner, the local economy’s dual reliance on ranching and mineral exploration is visible near Dry Creek Ranch, where a Landing Field served the area alongside the Goober Mine and an unnamed Prospect. From the heights of Shagnasty Basin to the low alkali-fringe of Salt Marsh Park, the map captures the hydraulic reality of the Great Basin, where vital water sources like Cottonwood Spring and Potato Canyon Spring dictated the location of every human structure.