1961 Map of Rainier Mesa

About this map

Rainier Mesa and the surrounding high desert of Nye County appear here as a landscape shaped by specialized industrial and scientific activity during the early 1960s. Surveyed in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission, the map details the infrastructure of the Nevada Test Site, including the administrative and operational boundaries of Area 12, Area 14, and Area 2. Grounded in a complex network of topographical features like The Aqueduct Mesa and the Eleana Range, the map documents specific facilities such as a Radioactive Waste Dump, a High Explosive Test Area, and High Explosive Storage. Amidst this modern technical development, traditional desert landmarks remain, from Gold Meadows to vital water sources like Whiterock Spring and Captain Jack Spring. The terrain is navigated by a sparse system of the Mesa Road and numerous Jeep Trails cutting through Tongue Wash and Stockade Wash.