1956 Map of Iris

About this map

Flowing Wells and Iris mark the desert corridor of the Southern Pacific railroad during the mid-1950s. This arid landscape is defined by the massive irrigation infrastructure required to sustain the region, including the Coachella Canal, Main Canal, and the East Highline Canal. The map reveals a complex grid of numbered laterals and drains, such as N Lateral and P Drain, which divert water to the desert floor. To the northeast, the Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range occupies the rising terrain, contrasting the industrial water management of the lowlands with military airspace. Utility and transport features like a Filtration Plant, a Water Tank, and siphons along the canal systems illustrate the engineering required to maintain these remote settlements and rail stops.