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1953 Map of Hoover Dam

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Hoover Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Hoover Dam stands as the focal point of this mid-century survey, anchoring the border between Nevada and Arizona. This map represents a critical period for the Lake Mead National Recreational Area, detailing the underwater topography of the reservoir through contours compiled from sediment studies. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the Colorado River corridor to the surrounding peaks, including Fortification Hill and Guardian Peak.

Evidence of desert prospecting remains visible at the Old Pope Mine and Cottonwood Mine south of Indian Pass. The map also captures the early recreational and access infrastructure of the shoreline, such as Callville Bay and the track of the Bonelli Landing Road. This era of the reservoir shows the Virgin Basin and Boulder Canyon before decades of sediment change, providing a base for studying the evolution of the Lake Mead shoreline and its geological landmarks like the Bowl of Fire and Castle Reef.