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1960 Map of Frenchman Flat

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Frenchman Flat
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Frenchman Lake sits at the center of this 1960 survey, a dry playa utilized as a focal point for nuclear testing operations within the Nevada Test Site and Nellis Air Force Range. The map reveals a highly specialized landscape of the Cold War era, marked by a dense concentration of concrete structures and experimental infrastructure. Numerous installations such as the Blast Center, Triple Point Bunker, Kay Blockhouse, and Sugar Bunker are recorded across the flat, connected by an intricate network of desert tracks and the primary Mercury Highway.

Logistical support for the site is evident through the inclusion of a Pumping Station, several water wells including Well 5A, and a designated Radioactive Waste Dump. Beyond the technical facilities, the topography is defined by Massachusetts Mountain and the Desert Range, while older routes like the Old Indian Springs Road trace through the arid terrain. This map serves as a primary record of the physical alterations made to the desert floor during the peak of American atmospheric and underground testing programs.