1963 Map of Lida Wash

About this map

Clayton Valley dominates the northern reaches of this mid-century Nevada landscape, where the flat expanse of the valley floor meets a complex of industrial and natural features. A large Settling Basin and an curiously named Alcatraz Island sit at the northern edge, indicating the specialized land use in this desert sink. Moving south, the terrain rises sharply into the Silver Peak Range and the Palmetto Mts, where high-altitude water sources like McNamara Spring and Birch Creek Spring supported local activity. The presence of the McNamara Mine and other unnamed Mines suggest the area's mineral importance, linked to the valley by a network of desert tracks including Coyote Road and Nivloc Road. This survey documents a quiet period of mining exploration and ranching outposts, such as Cox Camp, before modern shifts in regional industry.