1952 Map of Cactus Peak

About this map

Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range dominates the southern half of this mid-century Nevada landscape, a testament to the region's role in military training during the early Cold War era. The terrain is characterized by high desert basins and isolated summits, including the prominent Cactus Peak and Monitor Peak within the Monitor Hills. Evidence of military activity is scattered throughout the lower elevations, with several Targets, Towers, and dedicated Target Areas positioned across Cactus Flat. Human habitation is sparse, represented primarily by Reeds Ranch on the eastern edge. A central Base Line bisects the quadrangle between the bombing range and the Ralston Valley to the north, while the surveyor's mark at Mt Diablo provides a key reference point in this stark, high-altitude desert environment.