1956 Map of Castle Butte

About this map

The expanding military footprint of the High Desert dominates this mid-century survey, specifically the Edwards Air Force Base Flight Test Center stretching across the southern portion of the map. This area, encompassing the northern edge of Rogers Lake, served as a critical aerospace corridor during the early jet and rocket era. Small rail-side nodes like North Muroc and Muroc Junction sit along the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, marking the intersection of civilian transport and defense infrastructure. To the north, the landscape transitions into ranching and resource extraction, evidenced by Mendiburu Ranch and Thundering Herd Ranch. The presence of several Prospects and Quarries near Rand Mountains indicates the persistent search for minerals in this arid basin. Prominent geological landmarks such as Castle Butte and Desert Butte anchor the wide expanses of Peerless Valley, connected by early thoroughfares like Neuralia Road and Mojave Randsburg Road.