1952 Map of Bennetts Well

About this map

Death Valley (Depression) dominates this mid-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by scarce water sources and extreme elevations within the Death Valley National Monument. The map detail traces the critical reliance on isolated water points such as Bennetts Well, Shortys Well, and Eagle Borax Spring, which served as vital landmarks for early desert travelers. Along the western edge, the Panamint Range rises sharply, cut by deep drainages like Hanaupah Canyon and Johnson Canyon. Economic activity is evidenced by scattered mines and specialized Talc Mines near Galena Canyon in the south, while the eastern border is hemmed in by the Black Mountains. This 1952 field-checked record captures the topography of the basin floor, including Badwater and the ephemeral course of the Amargosa River, before modern paved access transformed the visitor experience of the monument.