1943 Map of Essex

About this map

The Gold Fleece Mine sits at the center of this 1943 military survey, surrounded by the steep relief of the California desert during the height of World War II. Prepared for the War Department by the 651st Engineer Topographic Battalion, the map served the needs of the Commanding General for the California-Arizona Maneuver Area. This high-altitude desert landscape is defined by its scarce water sources, notably Honeymoon Spring and several unnamed Springs and a Spring scattered across the elevations. The small settlement at Essex is anchored by a Reservoir, indicating the vital importance of infrastructure in this arid environment. The map's production through photographic enlargement from Metropolitan Water District records reflects the urgent wartime need for detailed topographic data in training areas.