1943 Map of Cadiz Lake

About this map

Cadiz Lake dominates the southern landscape of this 1943 provisional survey, which was prepared by the 651st Engineer Topographic Battalion during the height of World War II. The map details a critical logistical corridor through the San Bernardino desert, anchored by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line. Along this rail route, small sidings and settlements like Chubbuck, Kilbeck, and Archer provided essential infrastructure for desert transit, including a noted Pumping Station near Archer. The topography reveals the stark isolation of the Ship Mts rising above the dry lake bed, with the Danby Parker Road cutting north across the arid terrain. This document reflects the military's strategic mapping of the California-Arizona Maneuver Area, capturing the intersection of industrial rail transport and the unforgiving desert environment before mid-century changes altered the region's accessibility.