1968 Map of Coaldale

About this map

The vast expanse of the Columbus Salt Marsh (Alkali Flat) dominates this high-desert landscape in the late 1960s, a stark white basin framed by the Candelaria Hills and the Silver Peak Range. Human activity in this arid corridor is concentrated along the highway crossroads of Coaldale Junction and the small settlement of Coaldale, which served as critical transit points between Tonopah and Mina. The map documents a transition from mining era infrastructure to mid-century aviation and transit, evidenced by the presence of an Old Railroad Grade running parallel to modern roads and both a Landing Field and Landing Strip situated near the town. Industrial relics like Ore Treatment Tanks and various Prospects speak to the region's mineral extraction history, while a network of Jeep Trails and a literal Aqueduct trace the difficult task of managing resources and movement across the Nevada desert.