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1933 Map of Avawatz Mountains

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

USGS Topo · Published 1933

About this map

Death Valley and the surrounding desert ranges are mapped here during a period of active rail travel and industrial mining. The landscape is defined by the ephemeral Amargosa River and the high desert basins of Soda Lake and Silver Lake. Small settlements like Shoshone and Baker serve as hubs along the Tonopah and Tidewater RR and Union Pacific RR, reflecting the region's reliance on railroad connectivity for survival and commerce.

Industrial history is prominent, with the Epsom Salts Works and scattered mills such as Ashford Mill and Confidence Mill marking sites of extraction. The presence of numerous wells and springs, including China Ranch and Saratoga Spr, highlights the critical water sources that dictated travel routes like the Barstow Road. From the Avawatz Mountains to the Owlshead Mountains, the map reveals a network of mining camps and remote outposts before the expansion of modern infrastructure.