1962 Map of Thirsty Canyon

About this map

Nellis Air Force Range dominates this 1961 aerial survey of the high desert, conducted in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission. The landscape is defined by the massive Pahute Mesa and the sharp drop-offs of Ribbon Cliff, showcasing the complex drainage patterns of the Thirsty Canyon system. Seasonal watercourses like the East Fork, West Fork, and Rocket Wash have carved deep relief into the terrain, while human activity is restricted to a single Jeep Trail and the surveying benchmark at VABM Mystic 5780. This topographic study documents a sensitive military and scientific area during the peak of Cold War-era geological and nuclear research programs.