Loading map...

1933 Map of Avawatz Mountains

Name: 1933 Topographic Map of Avawatz Mountains
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The Death Valley National Monument boundary cuts through this Mojave Desert landscape, capturing a period when mining and rail infrastructure defined the region. Early industrial sites like the Ashford Mill and Confidence Mill are situated near the Amargosa River, while the unusual Monorail line is marked near the Epsom Salts Works in the Owlshead Mountains. These features represent the specialized transportation and extraction efforts required to navigate the basin.

The arid interior is oriented around essential water sources such as Saratoga Spr and Ibex Spr, which served as vital stops for travelers along the Tonopah and Tidewater railroad. The map traces the historical path of the Old Spanish Trail as it passes through the Chicago Valley toward Resting Spr. From the southern terminus at Baker near Soda Lake to the settlements of Shoshone and Tecopa, the layout reveals the precarious network of desert outposts and rail stops like Riggs and Sperry that once supported local trade.