1886 Map of Saint Thomas

About this map

Saint Thomas and other early Mormon settlements anchor this late 19th-century landscape long before the creation of Lake Mead. This survey records a critical desert corridor where the Virgin River meets the Colorado River, featuring vital river crossings like Stone Ferry and Scanlon Ferry. The map captures the infrastructure of western migration, including the Old California Trail and the Old California Crossing near West Point. Beyond the river valleys, the terrain is defined by the Muddy Mountains and Black Mountains, where a lonely Salt Mine and scattered watering points like Bitter Spring provided the only resources for travelers. This document preserves the location of Old Callville and Saint Joseph in their original riverine context, providing a clear view of the territorial boundary between Lincoln and Mohave counties before modern inundation altered the geography.