1955 Map of El Wood

About this map

Fort Bliss Military Reservation dominates this 1955 survey of the arid Tularosa Valley landscape. The terrain is characterized by intricate contouring of alluvial fans and desert flats, with Rattlesnake Hill serving as a prominent landmark in the northeast corner. Infrastructure is sparse, concentrated primarily along the corridor of the Southern Pacific railroad which cuts diagonally through the southeastern section. This transportation artery includes technical markers such as the R.R Semaphore near the small settlement of Elwood. Water sources are critical in this environment, evidenced by features like Mc Neic South Tank. The map reflects a mid-century military landscape where the vastness of the desert was utilized for large-scale training and defense operations, isolated from major civilian population centers.