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1956 Map of Helendale

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Helendale
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Mojave River defines the western corridor of this mid-century desert landscape, where the primary infrastructure of the High Desert is clearly visible. The parallel tracks of the Union Pacific and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads dictate the placement of local centers like Helendale, Bryman, and La Delta. This transit corridor is supported by early aviation and road markers, including the Bryman Landing Strip and Airway Beacon 8 near a railroad tunnel.

Industrial activity concentrates on the slopes of Silver Mountain, where several mining operations are documented. Significant sites for local history and mineral extraction include the Oro Grande Mine, Branch Mine, and Apex Mine, alongside various unnamed shafts and quarries. The surrounding terrain, reaching toward Sparkhule Mtn and the Shadow Mountains, reveals a network of primitive tracks like Hardrock Road and Jordan Road that once serviced these remote desert claims.