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1948 Map of Tres Hermanos

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Tres Hermanos
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

White Sands National Monument and the surrounding desert landscape dominate this 1940s topographic survey, revealing a region transitioning from ranching to intensive military research. The map documents the sprawling White Sands Proving Ground and the Fort Bliss Anti-Aircraft Range, featuring a specialized site for the California Institute of Technology and several Block House Targets. These military installations were superimposed over an older geography of isolated outposts like White Sands Ranch and Olden Ranch.

Logistics are defined by the Southern Pacific railroad line on the eastern edge, with local stops at Escondida Siding and Paxton Siding. Natural landmarks such as the Twin Buttes, Lone Butte, and the northern extent of the Jarilla Mountains provide vertical relief against the expanse of the White Sands. Scattered water sources like Salt Spring and Foster Lake underscore the arid conditions of this Tularosa Basin landscape.