1952 Map of Topopah Spring

About this map

The Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range dominates this mid-century desert landscape, illustrating the massive scale of military aviation training in Southern Nevada. This 1952 field survey captures the rugged terrain of Yucca Mountain and the steep elevation changes of Shoshone Mountain, before this region became globally known for subsequent federal projects. The vast arid expanse of Jackass Flats is depicted with intricate contouring, revealing a network of washes and canyons including the prominent Fortymile Canyon. While mostly uninhabited, the map identifies the isolated Topopah Spring and Beatty Wash, alongside numerous USGS benchmark locations that provided the essential geodetic control for mapping this remote sector of Nye County.