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1958 Map of The Pinnacles

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of The Pinnacles
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Honeycomb Buttes and the dramatic geology of The Pinnacles dominate this high-desert landscape in Sweetwater County during the late 1950s. The map captures a remote expanse defined by water management and ranching, where the presence of the Bar X Ranch and Bob Jack Well indicate the sparse but essential human footprint in the region. Hydrological features such as John Hay Reservoir and the Brannan Reservoir are critical infrastructure points, while the natural drainage of Alkali Draw and Bush Creek shapes the topography.

Industrial activity is noted through scattered sites like the Basin Well and an Oil Well, highlighting the early mineral exploration in the Alkali Basin. The map is particularly useful for those tracking the network of jeep trails and unimproved roads that connected these isolated outposts across the Sand Dunes and toward Buffalo Hump. This survey was conducted as part of the Department of the Interior program for the development of the Missouri River Basin, reflecting mid-century federal efforts to document and utilize the resources of the American West.