1961 Map of Timber Mountain

About this map

Nellis Air Force Range and the Nevada Test Site Area 18 define this landscape during a pivotal era of American nuclear and military research. Mapped in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission just after the 1950s, the terrain is dominated by the volcanic massif of Timber Mountain. The complex topography includes high-altitude survey markers like Vabm Timber 7422 and deep drainage systems such as Fortymile Canyon. Beyond the prominent heights, the map details the rudimentary infrastructure required to navigate this restricted desert environment, featuring the Cat Canyon Road and various Jeep Trail routes. A single Spring provides a rare point of natural water near the mountain's western slopes, while the eastern edge is marked by the flat expanse of Buckboard Mesa. The combination of geological surveying and military zoning illustrates the mid-century transformation of the Great Basin into a high-security federal testing ground.