Loading map...

1953 Map of Pinto Summit

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Pinto Summit
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Mining operations and remote homesteads characterize this high-desert landscape during the mid-twentieth century. The intensive extraction history of the Fish Creek Range is evident in the numerous shafts and tunnels clustered along Prospect Ridge and Hamburg Ridge, including the Windfall Mine, Hoosac Mine, and Eldorado Tunnel. These industrial sites sit in contrast to the rural life at the Schaefer Ranch and the Fish Creek Ranch, reflecting an era when small-scale agriculture and large-scale mining coexisted in the Great Basin.

Transport and social infrastructure are anchored by the Lincoln Highway, which traverses the flat expanse of Newark Valley past the historic Eighteenmile House (Site). The map records essential water sources like Pinto Creek Springs and Milk Ranch Spring, which were vital for sustaining the area's residents. Significant landmarks such as the County Hospital and a Landing Field provide evidence of the regional services established to support the nearby population centers.