1948 Map of Goldstone Lake

About this map

Goldstone stands as the primary namesake settlement in this high desert landscape, positioned within a region increasingly defined by its mid-century defense role. The terrain is characterized by broad basins like Superior Valley and several dry lake beds, including McLean Lake, Nelson Lake, and Goldstone Lake. These alkali flats provide a stark contrast to the surrounding elevations of the Tiefort Mountains. The 1948 field survey reveals the area during its transition into a restricted zone, dominated by the Camp Irwin Military Reservation. Established boundaries, such as the San Bernardino Meridian, intersect the topography, marking the transition from civilian land use to military operations. For those researching the history of the Mojave Desert, the map documents the network of unimproved roads and benchmarks that predated the more intensive development of the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex.