1947 Map of Kramer SW

About this map

The Muroc Army Airfield Military Reservation dominates the northern landscape of this 1947 survey, a time when the high desert was becoming a critical hub for Cold War aeronautical testing. This transition from a sparsely settled basin to a military corridor is etched into the terrain of the Antelope Valley and the western reaches of the Mojave Desert. The map captures the geometric precision of the growing desert grid, with arterial routes like Avenue D and Avenue E beginning to structure the valley floor. To the south, the terrain descends into Mirage Valley, while landmarks like Jackrabbit Hill provide rare vertical relief in an otherwise expansive, level basin. This military edition, compiled from 1946 aerial photography, preserves the early footprint of defense infrastructure that would eventually evolve into Edwards Air Force Base.