1953 Map of Elephant Mountain

About this map

Elephant Mountain and the Rattlesnake Hills dominate the southern half of this mid-century landscape, overlooking the agricultural basin of the Moxee Valley. The northern section is dominated by the expansive Yakima Firing Center Military Reservation, which stretches across the rugged contours of Yakima Ridge and into Kittitas Canyon. This 1953 field check captures the critical water infrastructure of central Washington, specifically the winding course of the Roza Canal and the Hanford Aqueduct as they traverse the valley floor to support the region's farms. Settlement is concentrated along family-named routes such as Mieras Road and Charron Road, while the Holy Rosary Cem and the small station at Desmarias serve as primary cultural and transit landmarks for the local community.