1955 Map of Mid Hills

About this map

Union Pacific rail lines cut through the northwest corner of this high desert terrain at Cima, anchoring a landscape defined by mining prospects and spring-fed cattle ranges in the mid-1950s. The map reveals a network of historic transit, including the Old Government Road winding through Round Valley past the reliable water at Government Holes. To the south, the Providence Mountains rise above Macedonia Canyon, where the Columbia Mine and several shafts mark early 20th-century extraction efforts. Significant cultural sites like Indian Petroglyphs near Woods Wash and the distinct volcanic features of Hole-in-the-Wall contrast with the industrial footprint of the Death Valley Mine and Barnett Mine. This survey serves as a vital record of Mojave Desert hydrology, charting dozens of remote water sources such as Chicken Water Spring and Mexican Water Spring that sustained life in the arid valleys.