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1948 Map of Death Valley

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Death Valley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

Death Valley National Monument and its surrounding desert basins are captured here following a 1947 compilation by the Army Map Service. The landscape is defined by its extreme elevations and sparse but vital water sources, with the Panamint Range rising sharply above the salt flats. This era shows the region as a mix of active outposts and the remains of early 20th-century mining booms. Scattered settlements such as Beatty, Rhyolite, and Carrara appear along the eastern edge, while the interior of the monument is anchored by Furnace Creek Ranch and Stovepipe Wells.

The industrial footprint of the Mojave is evident in the inclusion of the Lila C Mine and Modoc Mine, alongside the Southern Pacific rail line serving Owens Lake. Geologic features like the Coso Range and Coso Hot Springs underscore the active volcanic history of the area. For the researcher, the map preserves the location of numerous springs and wells, such as Texas Spring and Millers Spring, which were essential for survival in this unforgiving terrain.