1955 Map of Desert

About this map

Fort Bliss Military Reservation dominates the arid expanse of the Tularosa Valley in this mid-century survey. The landscape is defined by its military use and sparse infrastructure, centered around the Southern Pacific railroad line and a Telephone route that bisect the desert terrain. Small outposts and water sources, such as Desert and Alvarado, provide rare points of human activity in an otherwise open environment. To the southeast, the prominent Three Buttes rise as a significant landmark. The presence of Alvarado Water and Alvarado Tank No 1 highlights the critical role of water management for both the military and the railroad in this high-desert region of New Mexico. The map illustrates a period of strategic military land use during the height of the Cold War era.