1952 Map of Silent Canyon

About this map

The Nellis Air Force Range dominates this mid-century landscape of Nye County, Nevada, where the desert floor meets the high plateau of Pahute Mesa. This survey reflects a period of military and geological assessment, highlighting isolated points of infrastructure like Gold Flat Well No 1 and an earthen Landing Strip positioned on the broad expanse of Gold Flat. The topography is defined by the dramatic drainage systems of Silent Canyon and its many branches, which cut deep into the mesa. Between these sharp ridges and canyons are high-altitude basins such as Dead Horse Flat and the ephemeral Dry Lake. The presence of Silent Butte and Basalt Ridge marks the transition from the relatively open flats to the complex, eroded terrain that characterized this remote government-managed territory during the early Cold War era.