1973 Map of Lone Butte

About this map

China Lake Naval Weapons Center dominates this mid-1970s landscape at the intersection of Kern and San Bernardino counties. The infrastructure of the Cold War era is evident through the extensive network of Street grids, the U S Government Railroad, and various observation and radio towers. This military installation is bordered by the dramatic heights of the Argus Range, which rises sharply above the desert floor. The map details a landscape of strategic importance, featuring specialized facilities such as the Magazine Road, Normal E Base, and the Pilot Plant Road. For the researcher, the map preserves the precise locations of support structures including numerous Water Tanks, a Reservoir, and several Borrow Pits that supported the construction and maintenance of the desert complex during its peak operations.