1957 Map of Reno

About this map

Pyramid Lake and the expanse of the Carson Sink dominate this mid-century portrait of western Nevada, illustrating a landscape defined by terminal lakes and alkaline basins. The map captures the regional transition from the urban centers of Reno, Sparks, and Carson City to the wide-open military and agricultural zones to the east. Of particular interest to historians are the remnants of the Virginia & Truckee RR and the proximity of the Fort Churchill Historic State Monument to the Carson River. The geography reveals a complex water management system, from the Truckee Canal feeding the Lahontan Reservoir to the numerous wildlife refuges like Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge that depend on these flows. In the eastern reaches, the vast U S Naval Baker 16 Target Area and other military ranges show the mid-century's strategic use of the desert floor.