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1971 Map of Red Dome

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Red Dome
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The Old Central Pacific Grade cuts across the arid floor of Box Elder County, marking the historic path of the first transcontinental railroad through this corner of the Great Basin. This 1971 field-checked survey reveals a landscape of high-desert terrain dominated by the prominent Red Dome and the sprawling Horse Hills to the northeast. The distribution of water is scarce, indicated only by the Pugsley Reservoir and a lone Corral, illustrating the ranching and livestock infrastructure required in this environment.

Large geological formations and drainage patterns are clear, with Matlin Basin and an extensive Alkali Flat defining the lowlands. Unusual landmarks like Airplane Hill and shifting Sand Dunes suggest a varied desert topography. For historians, the map preserves the exact alignment of the early rail grade before decades of desert weathering, providing a primary record of nineteenth-century engineering in a modern topographic context.