1986 Map of Williams Well

About this map

Superior Valley dominates this high desert landscape, characterized by a complex network of seasonal drainages and mining activity in the mid-1980s. The area around Goldstone is marked by numerous Prospects and a primary Mine, indicating a period of intensive exploration and geological sampling. Transportation is defined by a sparse grid of 4wd tracks and the inclusion of a Landing Strip near the namesake Williams Well, a vital water point in this arid terrain. The presence of the San Bernardino Meridian provides a primary surveying reference point, cutting north-south through the center of the sheet. This map captures a specific moment in the Mojave Desert's history when the landscape was primarily utilized for technical surveying, remote aviation, and mineral prospecting, balanced against the natural features of the dry Wash beds that crisscross the valley floor.