1952 Map of Black Mtn

About this map

The Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range dominates this mid-century survey of the Nye County desert, reflecting the era's intensive military use of the Nevada interior. This landscape is defined by its arid geography, where isolated water sources like Salisbury Well and Gold Flat Well No 2 were critical landmarks for travelers and surveyors alike. The terrain transitions from the broad expanse of Gold Flat and the basin of Dry Lake to the prominent heights of Black Mtn and Mt Helen. Further south, the map reveals the complex topography of the Pahute Mesa and the deeply incised Thirsty Canyon. This document provides a look at the region's geographic infrastructure before later developments, detailing the relationship between mountain peaks like Quartz Mtn and the vast, open flats that made the area ideal for its mid-century defense role.