1956 Map of Old Dad Mountain

About this map

Mining operations and arid mountain ranges dominate this mid-century survey of the Mojave Desert. The landscape is defined by the towering Old Dad Mtn and the sprawling expanse of the Devils Playground, where water sources like Indian Spring and Willow Wash were critical for survival. For the local historian or prospector, the map identifies several early industrial sites, including the Paymaster Mine, Oro Fino Mine, and Brannigan Mine located near Seventeenmile Point. Transportation across this unforgiving terrain is marked by the Union Pacific railroad line, which skirts the southern edge of the desert through Sands. To the west, the arid basin of Soda Lake sits between the Cow Hole Mountains and the Bristol Mountains, illustrating a period when remote mineral extraction and rail transport were the primary human activities in this part of San Bernardino County.