1954 Map of Bagdad SW

About this map

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad cuts across the Mojave Desert floor, serving as the primary infrastructure artery for this isolated San Bernardino County landscape. This mid-century survey, updated in the 1980s, documents the transition of the desert into military use, as much of the southern terrain is occupied by the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. The northern portion of the map features the remnant locations of former desert outposts, specifically Bagdad and the former location of Trojan. To the west, the Naval Reservation Boundary borders the rugged slopes of the Bullion Mts. While industrial infrastructure like the Pipeline and Dike suggests modern utility, a lone Prospect near the base of the mountains points to the area's older history of mineral exploration.