1944 Map of Cottonwood Spring

About this map

Cottonwood Spring serves as a vital water source in this 1944 War Department survey, situated at the base of the Cottonwood Mountains within the Joshua Tree National Monument. The map documents a rugged landscape where the Southern Pacific railroad skirts the northern edge of the Salton Sea, which sat 241 feet below sea level at the time of the 1943 survey. This era captures the transition of the Colorado Desert from a remote wilderness into a managed landscape, evidenced by the construction of the Coachella Canal and the presence of the Spindle Top Oil Well. Settlement is sparse, with small clusters at Cactus City and the shoreline at Date Palm Beach, while travelers relied on established desert stops like Shavers Well. The topography is defined by the sharp rise of the Orocopia Mountains and Mecca Hills above the desert floor.