1957 Map of Grapevine Peak

About this map

Leadfield (Site) occupies a rugged canyon corridor where the California-Nevada state line bisects the high desert, representing a fleeting moment of early 20th-century mining ambition. This mid-century survey captures the extreme topography of the Grapevine Mountains, rising from the depths of Death Valley (Depression) up to the 8,738-foot summit of Grapevine Peak. The landscape is defined by deep incisions like Titus Canyon and Titanothere Canyon, where precarious roads and jeep trails provided the only access to remote holdings like Strozzi Ranch and the Phinney Mines. While water is scarce, the map identifies critical life-sustaining points such as Klare Spring and Brier Spring. Cultural history is evidenced by Petroglyphs near the canyon floors, while the Von Schmidt Line marks the historic 19th-century surveying boundary between the two states.