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1955 Map of Organ

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Organ
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Organ sits at the base of the San Augustin Mountains, serving as a focal point for this mid-century survey of the high desert. The map captures a landscape defined by its mining heritage and its transition into a military testing site. Prospectors and local historians can trace industrial activity at the Empire Zinc Mine, Silver King Mine, and Black Prince Mine, which are scattered throughout the rugged slopes and canyons.

Strategic passage through the peaks is marked by San Augustin Pass and Baylor Pass, while water sources like San Augustin Spring and Merrimac Spring reveal the essential points of life in this arid environment. A significant portion of the area is occupied by the White Sands Proving Ground, showing the expanding Military Reservation Boundary that would eventually limit civilian access to these mineral-rich mountains.