1955 Map of Cleghorn Lakes

About this map

The Bullion Mountains dominate this 1955 survey of the San Bernardino high desert, where the elevation rises significantly at Bullion East VABM 4046 and Bald VABM 4079. This portion of the California desert is defined by its use as the Marine Corps Training Center, a designation that overlays much of the varied terrain. The ephemeral nature of the local water system is evident in the Cleghorn Lakes, which sit alongside a recorded Dry Well in the southern basin. Navigation across this arid landscape at mid-century was limited primarily to a Jeep Trail winding through the eastern sections, reflecting the era's reliance on specialized vehicles for crossing the sandy and rocky ground. This sheet provides a clear look at the topographic character of the region before further military expansion or modern desert infrastructure changed the surface of the land.