1971 Map of Cougar Buttes

About this map

Lucerne Valley is defined by its stark geological formations and a unique astronomical-themed road network during the early 1970s. The northern portion of the landscape is dominated by the prominent Cougar Buttes and Negro Butte, where several quarries and a Prospect suggest mineral exploration in the high desert. To the west, a grid of residential and agricultural development emerges, featuring curious street names such as Mercury Road, Venus Road, Planet Road, and Stellar Road, reflecting a specific era of suburban planning. This survey, compiled from 1969 aerial photography, documents a period of growth that included the establishment of a Mobile Home Park along the primary East-West thoroughfare. In the southeast corner, the historical footprint of mining is evident at the Silver Reef Mine, situated among the desert foothills near the San Bernardino County line.