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1956 Map of Valley Mountain

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Valley Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Mining operations and aviation facilities define this mid-century desert landscape along the border of San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The region is a dense network of extraction, featuring established sites like the Copper World Mine, Virginia Dale Mine, and the Imperial Mine in the north. Further south, the Music Mountains and Valley Mountains provide a backdrop for specialized operations including the Marbolite Mine, Goat Basin Mine, and Gold Park.

Transportation through this arid terrain is marked by the Twentynine Palms Highway and various desert routes like Amboy Road and Gold Crown Road. The presence of an Emergency Landing Strip and a separate Landing Field suggests the area's strategic importance during the 1950s, possibly related to the nearby Marine Corps Training Center. From the Old Dale settlement to the scattered tunnels and shafts, the map documenting the San Bernardino Base Line reveals a complex history of resource hunting and military presence.