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1952 Map of Virginia City

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Virginia City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1952
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1952

About this map

Virginia City anchors this 1952 study of the Comstock Lode's heart, capturing the high desert landscape during a period of transition for its mining infrastructure. The map meticulously documents the industrial geography of the Virginia Range, from the subterranean path of the Sutro Tunnel to the specialized shafts that defined the district, including the Utah Shaft, Union Shaft, and Mint Shaft. Beyond the primary settlements of Gold Hill and Silver City, the survey identifies several former habitations now marked as sites, such as Lousetown and Washington.

Transportation patterns reflect the era's changes, showing the V & T RR (Abandoned) as a defunct rail line while the Geiger Grade remains a critical link across the mountains. The western edge of the sheet transitions into Truckee Meadows, where Steamboat and its Hot Springs are situated near the Browns Sch, illustrating the varied land use between industrial mining hubs and the developing valley floor.