1956 Map of Baker

About this map

The Silver Lake basin serves as the central hub for this mid-century desert survey, where industrial and transport history meet the arid floor of the Mojave. Baker appears in its development as a critical desert junction, complete with an Oil Tank, Cemetery, and a Landing Strip. The landscape is defined by the remnants of earlier extraction and transit, notably the Old Railroad Grade that cuts through the valley and the Silver Lake Mine located high in the Silurian Hills. Mining activity is further evidenced by the Aga Mine and various prospects labeled simply as Talc or Tunnel. To the south, the expansive Soda Lake sits at the base of the Soda Mts, while the northern reaches are drained by Salt Creek and the Riggs Wash. The map records a transition from traditional rail-based mining to modern aviation, signaled by the Silver Lake Airport and several remote Substation and Water Tank sites.