1956 Map of Crescent Peak

About this map

Vanderbilt and several former mining and railroad hubs appear as remnants in the mid-1950s California high desert. This survey documents the transition of the eastern Mojave as early 20th-century booms faded into archaeological sites, including the Hart (Site), Barnwell (Site), and Crescent (Site). The transportation network is dominated by the Old Railroad Grade and the Von Schmidt Line, reflecting the complex history of surveying the border between Nevada and California. Mining history is evidenced by the Crescent Mine and numerous scattered prospects. Cultural history reaches further back with the marking of petroglyphs in the Castle Mountains, while the dependence on groundwater is clear from the many desert water sources like Indian Spring and Burro Springs.