1961 Map of Striped Hills

About this map

The Nevada Test Site dominates the northern reaches of this map, reflecting a period of intense Cold War scientific activity and federal oversight. This 1961 field-checked survey, produced in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission, details a stark desert landscape where infrastructure is sparse but critical. A Weather Station sits near the Topopah Wash, while Spring Cane Road provides the primary transit route through the Amargosa Desert. The terrain is defined by the elevation changes of Little Skull Mountain and the distinctively named Striped Hills, which overlook Rock Valley. These topographic features served as the backdrop for mid-century nuclear testing and support operations, making this sheet a significant record of the region's unique military and geodetic history.