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1943 Map of Amboy

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Amboy
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and Union Pacific railroads define the logistical spine of the high desert during the Second World War. This Army Corps of Engineers training map highlights a landscape of strategic importance, featuring the 3rd Armd Div Camp and numerous landing fields situated on dry lake beds like Bristol Lake. Along the rail lines, small desert outposts such as Bolo Station, Siam, and Bagdad represent a network of water stops and telegraph points essential for cross-country transport.

Industrial activity is anchored by the Lime Mine Refinery near Chubbuck, while the massive Metropolitan Aqueduct cuts through the southern terrain toward the Iron Mountains. Remote camps and springs, including Wilhelm Camp and Sunflower Springs, suggest a history of prospecting and ranching that persisted despite the arrival of major infrastructure like Route 66. The map serves as a detailed record of the Mojave Desert’s military and industrial utility at the height of the war effort.