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1948 Map of Trona

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

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Searles Lake and its surrounding mineral-rich basins dominate this desert landscape, where the Southern Pacific railroad connects industrial outposts like Trona and Westend. The map reveals a transition from active mining settlements like Randsburg and Johannesburg to the expansive Camp Irwin Military Reservation. Historic travel routes are etched across the terrain, including the Old Spanish Trail winding near Soda Lake and Silver Lake.

The presence of scattered springs such as Saratoga Spring and Lone Willow Spring underscores the critical water network required for survival and industry in the Death Valley National Monument region. From the elevations of Argus Peak to the depression of Panamint Valley, the topography illustrates the demanding environment faced by early 20th-century miners and ranchers at sites like Ashford Mill and Blacks Ranch.