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1948 Map of Death Valley

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

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Death Valley National Monument anchors this 1948 military and geological survey, capturing the region's sparse settlements and intense topography just after World War II. The landscape is defined by the sharp verticality of the Panamint Range and Argus Range, dropping into the sink of Death Valley where Furnace Creek Ranch and Stovepipe Wells serve as isolated outposts. To the west, Owens Lake sits at the base of the Inyo National Forest, connected to the wider world by the Southern Pacific railroad line near Keeler.

Evidence of the area's mining history is preserved in labels for Ballarat, Darwin, and the Lila C Mine, while the northeastern quadrant reflects the era's military footprint with the sprawling Tonopah Gunnery Range. The map meticulously tracks vital water sources in this arid environment, from Hicks Hot Springs to Upper Centennial Spring, marking the springs and wells that dictated travel and survival across the Amargosa Desert.