1955 Map of Morgans Well

About this map

Morgans Well stands as a vital water source in this mid-century survey of the arid San Bernardino high desert. The landscape is defined by the Bullion Mountains and the expansive Pacific Mesa, terrain that by the 1950s had become part of the Marine Corps Training Center. The map documents the intersection of military land use and earlier industrial efforts, shown through the presence of Mine Tunnels and Mine Shafts near the Naval Reservation Boundary. These features reflect a history of prospecting in a region where water sources like the northern Spring were essential for survival. Survey markers such as VABM White 4343 and VABM Black Top 2736 provide fixed points for navigating this complex topography of ridges and washes during a period of expanding federal land management.