1886 Map of Saint Thomas

About this map

Saint Thomas and surrounding settlements in southeastern Nevada appear here during a period of early regional development along the Virgin River. This 1886 topography reveals the historical footprint of townsites like Saint Joseph, Overton, and Old Overton, alongside early transportation markers such as the Old California Trail and the Old California Crossing. Near the southern edge, the map documents the Colorado River in its natural state before twentieth-century dams, featuring critical river crossings like Stone Ferry and Scanlon Ferry. The landscape is defined by the convergence of several major washes, including Meadow Valley Wash and Las Vegas Wash, which drain into the river systems through the Black Mountains and Muddy Mountains. A single Salt Mine located south of Saint Thomas provides a rare indication of the era's local extractive industry.