1948 Map of El Wood

About this map

Fort Bliss Military Reservation dominates this stretch of the Tularosa Valley, reflecting a landscape increasingly defined by Cold War-era defense requirements. The map, derived from U.S. Army Air Force photography taken during the war, illustrates the intersection of desert ranching infrastructure and military expansion. Along the eastern edge, the Southern Pacific railroad runs adjacent to the small settlement of Elwood, providing a critical transportation link through the arid basin. Family-named landmarks such as McNew South Tank suggest the area's grazing history before its inclusion in the military reservation. The terrain is characterized by broad alkali flats and isolated rises like Rattlesnake Hill, showing the land as it appeared just as it was being repurposed for wide-scale military training and testing.