Loading map...

1957 Map of Reno

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Reno
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Reno and Carson City serve as the primary hubs in this mid-century western Nevada landscape, where the high desert meets the eastern slopes of the Carson Range. The map illustrates a complex water management and natural drainage system, from the deep waters of Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake to the terminal evaporation basins of the Carson Sink and Humboldt Sink. Infrastructure from the early 20th century is prominent, including the Lahontan Dam and Derby Dam, which diverted the Truckee River and Carson River to fuel agricultural growth in the Lahontan Reservoir area.

Transportation networks reveal the region's evolution, featuring the Southern Pacific RR and the storied Virginia & Truckee RR alongside emerging federal routes like US Highway 40 and US Highway 50. Beyond the urban centers, the map documents remote outposts and historical markers such as the Pony Express Monument and the Golden Fleece Mine, while large swaths of the desert are designated as military zones, including Navy Bombing Target Area No 16.