1954 Map of Rice

About this map

The Rice Air Base and its distinct triangular runway pattern dominate the desert floor of Rice Valley, serving as a focal point for this mid-century survey of the California desert borderlands. This landscape is defined by the intersection of critical infrastructure and harsh terrain, where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad tracks run parallel to the Colorado River Aqueduct. Small railroad-dependent settlements like Rice, Freda, and Sablon dot the line, providing sparse human presence between the massive uplifts of the Turtle Mountains to the north and the Arica Mountains to the south.