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1953 Map of Overton Beach

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Overton Beach
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

St Thomas sits submerged beneath the waters of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, a poignant reminder of the landscape's transformation following the construction of Hoover Dam. This 1950s era survey, updated with 1970 aerial photography, captures the northern reaches of the reservoir where the Muddy River and Virgin River converge. The desert terrain surrounding the water is marked by industrial sites like the Florence Mine and the Nevada Silica Sand Mine near Silica Dome, highlighting the mineral extraction that preceded the area's recreational shift.

Transport and recreation hubs such as Overton Beach and the Echo Boat Ramp serve as primary access points to the intricate shoreline of Stewarts Bay and Echo Bay. The map also details the early boundaries of Valley of Fire State Park and the Overton State Wildlife Management Area, documenting a period when conservation and recreation were being balanced with existing land uses like the Landing Strip and the rugged wash systems of Overton Wash and Rogers Wash.