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1958 Map of The Pinnacles

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of The Pinnacles
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The High Desert of Sweetwater County is dominated by the geological formations of Honeycomb Buttes and the striking landscape of The Pinnacles. This mid-century survey shows a sparsely populated ranching landscape where water is the primary concern, evidenced by numerous named wells and catchments. The Bar X Ranch serves as a central landmark in a region defined by extensive Sand Dunes and seasonal watercourses like North Fork Bear Creek and Bush Creek.

Strategic water management is visible through the John Hay Reservoir and Brannan Reservoir, which supported livestock in the arid Alkali Basin. Transportation in the late 1950s was largely restricted to the Middle Hay Bar X Ranch Road and various Jeep Trails, reflecting the isolation of the Buffalo Hump Basin. This map captures the area just as it was being evaluated for the Department of the Interior program for the development of the Missouri River Basin.