1953 Map of Mono Craters

About this map

Lee Vining and the western shore of Mono Lake anchor this 1953 field survey, capturing the gateway to the Sierra Nevada during an era of expanding water infrastructure and alpine tourism. The map shows the intricate network of the Los Angeles Aqueduct system, including Grant Lake and Silver Lake, alongside the steep ascent of the Tioga Pass road. Local industry and utility are evidenced by the State Fish Hatchery and the Lee Vining RS, while the legacy of high-country prospecting remains visible through the May Lundy Mine and Log Cabin Mine. The landscape is dominated by sharp vertical relief, from the high peaks of Yosemite National Park like Mt Dana down to the volcanic formations of the Aeolian Buttes and Pumice Valley, illustrating the complex geologic transition between the Sierra crest and the Great Basin.