1951 Map of Marble Canyon

About this map

Death Valley National Monument encompasses this desert landscape, where the high peaks of the Panamint Range and Cottonwood Mountains descend into the geological depressions of Death Valley and Hidden Valley. The 1951 field check reveals a terrain defined by isolated water sources and mining operations, including the Ubehebe (Talc) Mine, Keeler Mine, and Quackenbush Mine. This era of documentation shows the survival of indigenous history alongside early 20th-century prospecting, with Petroglyphs noted near Sand Flat. The map traces a network of primitive transport routes through the canyons, where Shorty Harris Spring and Goldbelt Spring served as vital landmarks for those traversing the arid flats and steep ridges. These features illustrate the precarious balance between resource extraction and the preservation of a unique environment.