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1953 Map of Selah Springs

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Selah Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The Yakima Firing Center and Military Reservation dominate this landscape during the early 1950s, revealing a terrain heavily adapted for mid-century defense operations. Located along the boundary of Kittitas and Yakima Counties, the area is defined by the prominent heights of Umtanum Ridge and Yakima Ridge. A fascinating layer of early unmanned aviation history is visible through the presence of a Drone Landing Strip and a Drone Take-off Strip, alongside an Abandoned Landing Field and an Airstrip.

Beyond military infrastructure, the map captures the hydrological character of the high desert, from the winding Selah Creek and Burbank Creek to more isolated points like Selah Springs and an Abandoned Dam. The presence of an Observation Post and a Gravel Pit further illustrates the practical development of this training ground. To the south, Kittitas Canyon cuts through the ridges, framing a territory where natural drainages and man-made runways meet.