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1987 Map of Ely

Name: 1987 Topographic Map of Ely
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Ely and the surrounding high desert of White Pine County are documented here during a period of significant mining activity and conservation transitions. Massive open-pit operations like Ruth Pit, Liberty Pit, and Tripp Pit dominate the landscape near Ruth, illustrating the region's deep industrial heritage. The Nevada Northern RR provides a critical transportation link through Steptoe Valley, connecting the copper centers of Lane City and Keystone Junction with the smelter town of McGill.

To the east, the establishment of Great Basin National Park marks a shift toward preservation, protecting high-elevation features such as Wheeler Peak and Lehman Creek. Between these industrial and natural landmarks lie traces of early settlement and travel, from the Ely Cem to the mountain crossing at Sacramento Pass. The map also captures historic sites like the Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Monument, which stands as a physical record of the silver-processing era that preceded the twentieth-century copper boom.