Loading map...

1953 Map of Nebo

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Nebo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Calico Mountains and the arid basin of the Mojave River dominate this desert landscape during the early 1950s. This survey records an era of significant military and industrial presence in the High Desert, centered on the Nebo Marine Base (Barstow Annex) and the eastern edge of Barstow. The transport infrastructure is anchored by the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which parallels the river and serves the logistical needs of the base and local mining operations.

Prospectors and mining companies left their mark across the higher elevations, evidenced by the Barium Queen Mine, Silver Bow Mine, and Burcham Mine. The map reveals a complex network of resource extraction and defense, with numerous tunnels and shafts cut into Lead Mountain and the surrounding peaks. Distinctive boundaries like the San Bernardino Meridian and the Naval Res Bdy further define the land use of this post-war period.