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1952 Map of Ash Meadows

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Ash Meadows
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Amargosa Desert straddles the Nevada California border in this mid-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by isolated springs and defunct rail lines. The hub of activity centers on Death Valley Junction, where the Death Valley Railroad and the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad once converged. By the time of this mapping, these lines were dismantled, leaving only the graded paths through the desert floor.

Water sources are the primary landmarks for survival and settlement in this arid basin. Concentrations of life appear at Ash Meadows Rancho and Hog Ranch, supported by numerous water features like Crystal Pool, Fairbanks Spr, and Point of Rocks Springs. The mapping also delineates the eastern edge of Death Valley Nat Monument, including the notable deep-water fissure at Devils Hole. Industrial traces remain at various Clay Pits and the Clay Camp, reflecting the region's mineral extraction history.