1963 Map of Dead Horse Flat

About this map

Nellis Air Force Range and the Nevada Test Site dominate this mid-century topographic record, reflecting the intense military and scientific activity of the Cold War era in Nye County. The landscape is defined by the high plateau of Dead Horse Flat, bordered by deep drainages such as North Silent Canyon and South Silent Canyon. The map is unique for its focus on restricted government lands during the height of atomic testing, showing the Military Reservation Boundary Test Site Boundary that separated different zones of strategic operations. Despite the heavy federal presence, the map preserves older terrain names like Grass Spring Canyon and Basket Valley, providing a look at the geography before it was fully enveloped by specialized military designations.