1955 Map of Adel

About this map

Warner Valley serves as a stark focal point for this mid-century survey of the high desert, where a chain of shallow basins including Crump Lake and Hart Lake define the hydrology of the Great Basin. This era captures the region's managed wilderness under the oversight of the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The map illustrates the extreme isolation of small outposts like Adel, Frenchglen, and Fields, which are connected by early iterations of routes like 140. The topography is dominated by massive fault-block features such as Steens Mountain and the Pueblo Mountains, overlooking the arid expanse of the Alvord Desert. These varied landforms provided a complex environment for the ranching operations and wildlife conservation efforts that have long characterized Lake and Harney counties.