1961 Map of Ammonia Tanks

About this map

Nevada Test Site boundaries dominate the central landscape of this 1961 topographical study, conducted in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission. The map details a high-altitude desert environment characterized by the broad volcanic plateaus of Pahute Mesa and Buckboard Mesa, separated by the deep incision of Silent Canyon. This era of mapping captured the area as it was being actively utilized for national security purposes, showing a network of primitive transportation routes including the Back Road and various unnamed Jeep Trails that traverse the arid terrain.