1956 Map of Old Dad Mountain

About this map

Old Dad Mtn and the surrounding Mojave landscape define this 1956 survey, characterized by extreme topography ranging from the towering Kelso Dunes to the vast Playa Ground. The desert floor is marked by the Union Pacific line, which services the small stop at Sands in the southwestern corner. This era of exploration and extraction is evident in the cluster of remote workings found in the highlands, including the Paymaster Mine, Oro Fino Mine, and Rainy Day Mine. These sites, connected by a network of Jeep Trails, represent the mid-century mining interest in San Bernardino County's interior ranges. Water sources are scarce but critical, noted at Indian Spring and Indian Creek, while the northwestern edge of the map touches the expansive Soda Lake. The presence of massive Lava fields and the Bristol Mountains illustrates a terrain where industry and geology are inextricably linked.