1961 Map of Mercury

About this map

The Nevada Test Site Area 5 and the Nellis Air Force Range dominate this Cold War-era landscape, showing the intensive federal presence in the desert during the early 1960s. At the heart of the activity is the settlement of Mercury, providing housing and services for personnel, including the Deli Frenzi Park and a complex network of underground telephone lines. The terrain is defined by dry watercourses like Sandy Wash and Winding Wash that cut through the Spotted Range and Crossgrain Ridge. Infrastructure supporting the testing operations is visible through several pumping stations and an Eagle Roost Radio Tower. This survey, created in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission, documents the intersection of modern military technology and ancient routes like the Old Indian Road, which persists despite the encroachment of the Mercury Highway and various jeep trails.