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1956 Map of Horse Thief Springs

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Horse Thief Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Kingston Range dominates the southern landscape of this mid-century survey, a rugged terrain marked by the intersection of Inyo Co and San Bernardino Co. The map records a complex mining history, with operations like the Silver Rule Mine, Jupiter Mine, and Snow White Mine dotting the mountainous slopes. These industrial sites are linked by an extensive network of Jeep Trails and the historic Old Traction Road, which once served the local extraction economy.

Critical water sources such as Horse Thief Springs, Crystal Spring, and Beck Spring provided essential relief in this arid environment. To the north, the terrain flattens into the Pahrump Valley and Mesquite Valley, where infrastructure includes a remote Landing Strip and Well (Aban'd) markers. The map illustrates the sparse but determined human footprint in the high desert before modern expansion, capturing the isolation of these borderlands.