1988 Map of Ryan

About this map

Ryan and the settlement of Ryan Widow anchor this 1988 survey, located at the eastern edge of Death Valley National Monument. The landscape is dominated by industrial mining history, with the Sigma Mine, Billie Mine, and Boraxo Mine marking significant mineral operations between the Black Mountains and the Greenwater Range. Transport corridors are defined by the rugged Gouge Eye path and a prominent Old RR Grade, which winds through the hills toward the Funeral Mountains. This map documents a desert environment where water sources like Lemonade Spring were critical for survival and industry. The presence of Ruins, a Cem, and scattered prospects provides a clear view of the transitory nature of high-desert mining camps. Modern infrastructure, including a Radio Tower, sits alongside these relics of the previous century's extraction efforts.