1933 Map of Avawatz Mountains

About this map

The southern reaches of Death Valley and the surrounding high desert terrain define this landscape at a time when industrial extraction and rail travel were still the region's primary lifelines. Along the eastern margins, the Tonopah and Tidewater railroad serves a string of remote outposts including Tecopa, Silver Lake, and Baker. Early 20th-century mining history is evidenced by the presence of the Epsom Salts Works, Ashford Mill, and Confidence Mill, while the path of the Old Spanish Trail cuts through the northeast corner toward Emigrant Pass. Natural water sources like Saratoga Spr and Salt Springs provided critical stops in this arid environment, contrasting with the expansive dry beds of Soda Lake and Bicycle Lake. The map illustrates the early development of the Death Valley National Monument and the sparse network of primitive routes like the Barstow Road.