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1955 Map of Elephant Mountain

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Elephant Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The arid expanses of the Tularosa Valley define this mid-century landscape, dominated by significant defense installations and early ranching vestiges. Established within the White Sands Missile Range and the Fort Bliss Military Reservation, the area reveals a geography of restricted access and tactical infrastructure. The Military Reservation Boundary cuts across the terrain, separating the valley floor from the rugged eastern heights of the Jarilla Mountains and the prominent peak of Elephant Mountain.

Evidence of desert survival and livestock management persists in labels like Mc New Feeder Tank and Flying Eagle Tank. Of particular interest to local historians are the Mc New Well Camp Ruins, which point to a ranching history that predates the intensification of military operations. The presence of the Orogrande Range Camp and a Tower further underscores the strategic transition of the Otero County desert during the Cold War era.