1956 Map of Olancha

About this map

Owens Lake sits at the edge of the high Sierra, its eastern shore dominated by industrial evaporation works and the Southern Pacific rail line. This 1950s survey captures the complex water management systems of the era, from the Los Angeles Aqueduct snaking along the foothills to the Cottonwood Power Plant and its associated Powerhouse. The landscape transitions sharply from the valley floor settlements like Cartago and Olancha to the high alpine meadows of Sequoia National Park.