1956 Map of Apache Junction

About this map

The Goldfield Mountains and the northern edge of the Sonoran Desert meet in this mid-century topographical study of the area surrounding Apache Junction. The landscape is dominated by the transition from steep peaks like Pass Mountain and Dome Mtn in the Tonto National Forest down to the arid flats marked by the Gila and Salt River Base Line. This era shows early settlement patterns along the historic Apache Trail, where a scattering of water tanks and towers supported the growing community. Resource extraction and recreation are evident through the presence of the Bulldog Mine tucked into Bulldog Canyon and the Mesa Gun Club situated near Usery Pass. Local education and social hubs of the 1950s are preserved through the location of the Superstition Mtn School and small residential clusters at Palm Springs and Larkspur Ranch.