1952 Map of Davis Dam

About this map

Davis Dam stands as the central engineering feat along the Colorado River in this early 1950s study of the tristate border region. The landscape is a study in transition, documenting the early development of Bullhead City and Katherine alongside remnants of an earlier frontier era. The river corridor preserves significant historical sites, including the Mohave City (Site) and the Fort Mohave (Ruins) within the Fort Mohave Indian Reservation. The presence of the Katherine Mine (Inactive) and numerous Clay Borrow Pits indicates the region's industrial and extractive activities during the mid-century. Several family-named properties like Hardyville Ranch and LeClair Ranch are scattered along the riverbanks, marking the local ranching footprint before more intensive desert development took hold. The map also delineates the northern reaches of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, where the river winds through Pyramid Canyon and past distinctive landmarks like Bulls Head Rock.