1956 Map of Baker

About this map

Baker stands as a focal point in the high desert of San Bernardino County, situated at the edge of the expansive Soda Lake. This mid-century landscape is defined by the legacy of early transit and extraction, notably the Old Railroad Grade that cuts north through the Silurian Valley toward Riggs. The arid basin is marked by several dry lakebeds, including Silver Lake and Dry Lake, which provided flat surfaces for the development of the Silver Lake Airport. Resource extraction is evident in the foothills of the Silurian Hills, where a Talc mine and a Tunnel are noted. The map captures a moment when traditional infrastructure like the Cemetery and water tanks at Baker coexisted with the infrastructure of the burgeoning desert corridor, including a Substation and multiple landing strips.