1956 Map of Durmid SE

About this map

Salton Sea waters dominate this 1956 mid-century landscape, recorded during a period when the shoreline reached an elevation 235 feet below sea level. The map highlights a massive Naval Reservation and its associated Test Base, reflecting the era's military footprint in the Colorado Desert. Along the northeastern shore, infrastructure is concentrated near Bertram, where the Southern Pacific railroad and State Route 111 follow the narrow corridor between the desert and the rising water. The creation of the Salton Sea State Park along this stretch signals the area's transition into a recreational destination, even as specialized aviation markers like the Flight Course Pylon denote its continued use for specialized flight operations and military testing.