1968 Map of Monument Point

About this map

Hansel Mts rise sharply above the northern reaches of the Great Salt Lake, overlooking a landscape defined by expansive salt flats and early transportation corridors. The 1968 shoreline of Spring Bay meets a series of vast alkaline basins, including Mud Flat and Salt Wells Flat, where geography dictated the path of the First Transcontinental Railroad. Tracing the southern foothills of the mountains, both the Old Central Pacific Grade and the Old Union Pacific Grade traverse the terrain near Monument Point. This alignment reflects the intense competition between the two rail companies as they raced to meet at Promontory, leaving behind parallel earthen works across the desert. Scattered water sources like Pothole Springs and various unnamed salt springs provided critical, if brackish, relief in this arid environment, while Lone Rock stands as a solitary navigational landmark amidst the level flats.