1962 Map of Walker Lake

About this map

The Wassuk Range and its neighbor Walker Lake dominate the high desert terrain of western Nevada, shown here alongside the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. This post-war compilation captures a landscape of intense topographic relief, where the Southern Pacific railroad connects mining and transport hubs like Hawthorne, Mina, and Luning. To the west, the map reaches into the high alpine country of Yosemite National Park and the Toiyabe National Forest, illustrating the sharp transition from mountain peaks to the arid basins of Gabbs Valley. Significant cultural boundaries are evident, including the Walker River Indian Reservation and the Washoe Allotments Indian Reservation. Genealogists and historians will find notable mining-era settlements such as Bodie and Aurora, alongside established agricultural communities in Smith Valley and near Yerington.