1960 Map of Yucca Flat

About this map

The Nevada Test Site dominates this 1960 topographic survey, revealing the infrastructure of early nuclear testing in the desert. Divided into numbered sectors such as Area 2, Area 4, and Area 7, the landscape is marked by unique technical indicators including several Blast Centers and sites for a Radioactive Waste Dump. The Mercury Highway serves as the primary artery through Yucca Flat, connecting functional hubs like the BJ Wye to a network of a Launching Pad, a Tower, and numerous subsurface Bunkers. This document captures the specialized geography of the Atomic Energy Commission’s operations, where topographic contour lines are interrupted by man-made Trenches and test-related Drill Hole D. Near Balloon Hill, the intersection of secret industry and desert terrain is evident through the dense placement of an Underground Telephone Line and remote infrastructure.