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1956 Map of Goldfield

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Goldfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Gold mining operations and cattle ranching define the landscape of the Goldfield Mountains during this mid-century survey. The area around Lost Dutchman State Park is dense with historical mining activity, featuring the Goldfield Mine Water Tower and several named claims including the Tomahawk Mine, Golden Birdseye Mine, and Black Queen Mine. These sites sit at the edge of the wilderness, where the desert flats transition into the steep, canyon-cut faces of the Superstition Mountains.

Tracing the path of the Dutchmans Trail reveals a history of exploration and conflict, passing near the Massacre Grounds and through the rugged gaps of Parker Pass. Cultural remnants are noted at Spanish Hieroglyphics and Indian Hieroglyphics, suggesting the long-term human presence in these canyons. Ranching outposts like First Water Ranch and Kings Ranch mark the few reliable water sources and points of habitation in a territory primarily defined by its geology and legend.