1955 Map of Broadwell Lake

About this map

Broadwell (Site) sits at the heart of this mid-century desert landscape, marking a point where human industry met the arid terrain of the Mojave. An Old Railroad Grade traces a linear path across the dry basin, cutting between the Cady Mountains and the Bristol Mountains. This corridor once served as a vital logistical link, evidenced by labels for Tidewater and a Shaft and Prospect scattered across the high ground. The ephemeral Broadwell Lake and Hyten Spring provide the only signs of water in a region defined by geological features like the Broadwell Mesa and a Natural Arch. Networked by several Jeep Tr paths, the map reveals the transition of this area from a working rail and mining district into a more isolated wilderness during the 1950s.