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1950 Map of Bumblebee

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Bumblebee
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The Howard Silver Mine and Bi-Metals Mine anchor a landscape of mineral exploration within the Prescott National Forest. This 1946-1947 aerial-based survey documents a rugged section of the Bradshaw Mts where the hard-rock mining economy of central Arizona was clearly etched into the terrain. The settlement of Bumblebee sits at the junction of Bumblebee Wash and Mexican Gulch, serving as a focal point for the surrounding gulches and canyons.

Logistics in this era were defined by a single Telephone Line and a network of windmills such as the one at Harris Spr. The topography transitions from the high elevations of Black Mesa down into the deep incision of Black Canyon. Remote outposts like Cordes Cabin and numerous water sources including Gost Spr and Lower Dead Cow Spr illustrate the essential infrastructure required for survival and industry in this arid environment.