Loading map...

1948 Map of Mockingbird Gap

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Mockingbird Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Oscura Mountains bisect this high-desert landscape during the late 1940s, a period defined by the convergence of ranching heritage and Cold War military expansion. Large portions of the terrain are partitioned for the White Sands Proving Ground and the Alamogordo Bombing Range, reflecting the area's strategic importance for postwar weapons testing. Amidst this militarized zone, evidence of former habitation remains, such as the McDonald Ranch (Abandoned) and the Air Strip (Abandoned).

Genealogical and local history value is found in the scattered ranching outposts and named water sources essential for survival in this arid environment. Features like Estes City, the A D Helm Ranch, and the Withers Ranch anchor the human geography of the region. The map also documents unusual local landmarks such as Palomas Moonshine Spring and a Demolition Target, providing a rare look at the transition from traditional grazing lands to a high-security testing corridor.