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1886 Map of Camp Mohave

Name: 1886 Topographic Map of Camp Mohave
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1886
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1886

About this map

The Colorado River carves through the heart of this landscape, its path defined by the sheer walls of Black Cañon and Pyramid Cañon. In the mid-1880s, this region was a critical frontier hub where river traffic met overland trade. Remote settlements like Hardyville and the military outpost at Camp Mojave served as vital anchors along the Mojave Valley, while the El Dorado Ferry provided one of the few crossings for travelers heading into the Opal Mountains.

To the east, the arrival of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad redirected the flow of the local economy, fueling the growth of Kingman and providing a lifeline for mining camps in the Cerbat Mountains. Detailed mapping shows the proliferation of silver and gold prospects near Chloride, Mineral Park, and the Patterson Mine. This survey preserves the ephemeral geography of early Arizona, from the isolated springs of Detrital Valley to the bustling rail stops at Beale and Drake.