1953 Map of Midway

About this map

Altamont Pass serves as the central focal point for this early 1950s survey, marking a critical corridor for transportation and water infrastructure at the border of Alameda and San Joaquin counties. The landscape is dominated by the parallel tracks of the Western Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads, which share the low ground near Midway. A newly constructed Delta-Mendota Canal cuts across the northeastern terrain, illustrating the era's significant investment in California's water delivery systems. To the south, the deep drainage of Corral Hollow reveals a different layer of history, where the former industrial outposts of Tesla (Site), Carnegie (Site), and a Pottery (Site) are documented as archaeological footprints. This transition from active mining and manufacturing sites to a region primarily supporting transit and ranching through Mountain House and Midway Siding captures a moment of significant economic shift in the East Bay hinterlands.