Loading map...

1955 Map of Ludlow

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Ludlow
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The desert crossroads of Ludlow serves as the focal point of this Mojave landscape, where the Atchison Topeka And Santa Fe railway meets historical infrastructure. The map reveals a complex history of extraction and transportation, from the northern Cady Mountains down to the mining activity around Stedman in the south. Notable industrial sites include the Bagdad Chase Mine and the Old Pete Mine, which sit amidst the rugged terrain of the Bullion Mountains.

A significant portion of the southern area is occupied by the Marine Corps Training Center, reflecting the mid-century military presence in the California desert. The infrastructure of earlier eras is visible through various remnants, such as an Old Railroad Grade and the settlement of Ragtown, where ruins are specifically noted. This survey captures a moment when traditional desert mining and early aviation aids, like the Los Angeles-Amarillo Airway Beacon 17, coexisted with expanding military training grounds.