1957 Map of Reno

About this map

Pyramid Lake and the high desert basins of western Nevada define this mid-century landscape, showing the region's development before the massive expansion of the modern era. The transit corridor along U.S. 40 through Reno and Sparks anchors the north, while the Virginia & Truckee railroad and the Truckee River trace the historical movement of ore and water through the Virginia Range. The map captures a unique moment of military and natural intersection, with the Fallon National Wildlife Refuge and Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge established alongside several U.S. Naval Target Areas in the Carson Sink. From the shores of Lake Tahoe to the remote settlements of Rawhide and Schurz, the map documents a territory defined by high peaks like Mount Rose and the extensive ranching and mining operations in the Mason Valley.