1954 Map of Hidalgo Mtn.

About this map

Hidalgo Mtn dominates this high-desert landscape in the mid-1950s, serving as a prominent landmark within the extensive Marine Corps Training Center. The map documents a sparse but functional network of desert infrastructure, centered around essential water sources like Ames Well and the dry beds of Quackenbush Lake and Emerson Lake. Evidence of small-scale mineral exploration appears near the southern slopes, where the Crystal Mine and a nearby Mill are situated. This survey captures a moment of military and industrial presence in the San Bernardino desert, where the terrain is marked by numerous Jeep Trails cutting through the basin and range, reflecting the post-war utility of the area for tactical training and resource extraction.