1947 Map of Red Buttes

About this map

Muroc Army Airfield Military Reservation dominates the northern reaches of this post-war landscape, situated within a vast expanse of the Mojave Desert. Compiled by the Army Map Service from aerial photography taken in 1946, the sheet documents a high-desert environment defined by prominent peaks and military activity. To the north, Hay Stack Butte rises above the airfield boundaries, while several Observation towers are positioned at strategic elevations to oversee operations across the terrain. The southern portion of the survey transitions into the craggy heights of the Shadow Mountains, creating a natural border against the flatter desert floor. Centered between these landforms are the eponymous Red Buttes, providing a clear visual landmark in a region characterized by its expansive grid of military reservations and undeveloped desert reaches during the mid-forties.