1957 Map of Kerens

About this map

The Union Pacific railroad cuts a vital corridor through the arid basin of the Mojave Desert, connecting remote outposts during the mid-1950s. Small rail stops like Kelso, Glasgow, and Kerens anchor a landscape defined by dramatic shifting sands and isolated peaks. The presence of the Onyx Mine in the Bristol Mountains suggests the area's mineral prospects, while the extensive Devils Playground and Kelso Dunes illustrate the powerful aeolian forces at work in this region. Drainage patterns are clearly marked by ephemeral routes such as Kelso Wash and Budweiser Wash, which direct rare runoff between the Old Dad Mountains and the Granite Mts. A network of Jeep Trails provides the primary means of navigating the desert floor, linking the isolated railroad sidings to the surrounding mountain ranges.