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1947 Map of Capitol Peak

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Capitol Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

San Andres Mountains dominate the western horizon of this survey, defining a landscape shaped by military expansion and harsh natural boundaries. During the mid-1940s, this region transitioned into a high-security military zone as part of the White Sands Proving Ground. The map reveals the critical importance of water in this arid high desert, marked by numerous isolated wells and tanks such as Capitol Peak Tank and Salt Springs.

The eastern portion of the sheet is characterized by the striking geology of The Malpais and the expansive Lava Bed, terrain that historically funneled travel through natural corridors like Mockingbird Gap. Traces of earlier human presence remain visible through scattered features like the B F Edwards Grant and a single identified Mine on the western slopes, while the emergence of Airstrip facilities signals the dawn of the Cold War era.