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1958 Map of Nelson

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Nelson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Eldorado Canyon serves as the industrial and geological centerpiece of this late-1950s survey, revealing a landscape defined by an intensive mining heritage. The settlement of Nelson stands surrounded by a dense concentration of mineral claims, including the Techatticup Mine, Wall Street Mine, and Quaker City Mine. This clustering illustrates the high-stakes prospecting that drove the development of Clark County’s desert interior.

Beyond the industrial shafts and tunnels, the map documents the region's deeper human and natural history. From ancient Petroglyphs near Keyhole Canyon to the rugged peaks of the Ireteba Peaks, the terrain transitions into the nascent Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Small outposts like Capital Camp and vital desert water sources such as Bridge Spring and Tule Spring provide evidence of how travel and survival were navigated in this arid environment before modern infrastructure fully transformed the Colorado River corridor.