1951 Map of Carson Sink

About this map

The West Humboldt Range and the Trinity Range frame a stark desert landscape where the Humboldt River terminates into the Humboldt Lake and the vast Carson Sink. By the early 1950s, the remnants of historical westward migration were still clearly etched across the basin floor, with the Old California Trail Road and Old Central Road threading through the alkali flats. Settlement is sparse, represented by small railroad-adjacent points like Miriam and Ocala along the Southern Pacific route. The presence of the Lovelock Indian Caves and Ocala Indian Cave highlights the deep human history of the Great Basin, while the St Anthony Mine and a local Gravel Pit indicate the mid-century mineral extraction efforts in this arid corridor. Much of the southern portion of the map is dedicated to the Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, marking the vital importance of the remaining wetlands in the Humboldt Slough.