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1948 Map of Salinas Peak

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Salinas Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Alamogordo Bombing Range and the White Sands Proving Ground dominate this high-desert landscape, reflecting a post-war era of military expansion and aerospace research. The terrain is defined by dramatic elevations and isolated ranching operations that existed alongside military testing sites. Landmarks like Salinas Peak and Silver Top Mountain tower over a network of canyons, including Cottonwood Canyon and Jance Canyon, while the Gyp Hills provide a distinct geological contrast to the south.

Water sources are the primary indicators of human activity here, with numerous family-named installations such as Cain Ranch Headquarters and the Gilliland Ranch Headquarters. For local history, the inclusion of the Bear Den Sch and the Salinas Mine provides evidence of small-scale community and industry persisting in the shadows of the California Institute of Technology Military Reservation Boundary.