1956 Map of Danby

About this map

Mining operations and railroad infrastructure dominate this Mojave Desert landscape during the mid-1950s. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad serves as the primary corridor for regional movement, connecting small desert outposts like Chambless, Danby, and Siam. In the more elevated terrain, industrial activity is evident at the Vulcan Mine and the Tom Reed Mine, while numerous shafts, tunnels, and prospects are scattered through the Ship Mountains and Clipper Mountains. Water, a critical resource in this arid environment, is noted at Bonanza Spring and specific Wells. The inclusion of an Airway Beacon near Cadiz Summit highlights the importance of this territory to early mid-century aviation routes. The map effectively captures a network of jeep trails and pipelines that supported the remote extraction economy of San Bernardino County.