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1956 Map of Horse Thief Springs

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Horse Thief Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Mining claims and desert springs define this mid-century survey of the high desert along the border of California and Nevada. The landscape is dominated by the Kingston Range, which serves as a backdrop for a concentration of early extraction sites such as the Silver Rule Mine, Jupiter Mine, and the Snow White Mine. These operations, along with others like the Smith Mine and Omega Mine, reflect the prospecting history that drew settlers to this arid region.

Vital water sources provided the necessary infrastructure for survival and industry, including the namesake Horse Thief Springs, Crystal Spring, and Beck Spring. Movement across the terrain followed established routes like the Old Traction Road and various jeep trails, navigating through Tecopa Pass between the Pahrump Valley and Mesquite Valley. The presence of the Von Schmidt Line and multiple abandoned wells highlights the challenges of surveying and settling this borderland environment.