1952 Map of Cactus Peak

About this map

The Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range dominates the southern half of this mid-century Nevada landscape, reflecting the military expansion of the Cold War era. Surveyed by the Army Map Service, the terrain transitions from the high peaks of the Monitor Range, including Monitor Peak, down into the broad expanse of Ralston Valley. The presence of several Targets, Target Areas, and observation towers scattered across the Cactus Flat highlights the area's specialized use for tactical training. Along the eastern edge, Reeds Ranch provides a rare point of named civilian activity in an otherwise austere high-desert environment. The mapping also captures the Mt Diablo Base Line, a critical surveying meridian that bisects the territory between the Cactus Range and the northern mountain peaks.