1952 Map of Tippipah Spring

About this map

Nevada Proving Grounds dominates this 1952 topographic study, revealing the early infrastructure of the nation's nuclear testing landscape in Nye County. The map details a transition from traditional desert water sources like Tippipah Spring, Oak Spring, and Captain Jack Spring to a modern military landscape defined by the Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range. Civil engineers and military planners marked the broad expanse of Yucca Flat with the Mercury Highway, a critical artery for the testing operations. The terrain is characterized by stark geological features, including the Eleana Range, Syncline Ridge, and Mine Mountain, which provided the natural backdrop for the era's atomic research and development. An Aqueduct and various water tanks underscore the logistical challenges of maintaining a permanent presence in this arid environment.