Published in 1961 from 1960 USGS mapping, the original “Tonopah” quadrangle presents one of Nevada’s most storied mining towns with the precision and restraint of mid-century American topography. At 1:24,000 scale, the map brings Tonopah and its immediate desert setting into sharp focus, balancing the built environment with the powerful landforms that define this part of the Great Basin. Roads, drainage lines, saddles, peaks, and contour intervals combine to form an elegant portrait of a high-desert settlement shaped by geology. The result is both practical and evocative: a carefully measured record of Tonopah at a moment when its mining legacy, regional roads, and sparse surrounding terrain were all being reinterpreted in the postwar American West.

Tonopah itself occupies the heart of the map, a town whose name is inseparable from Nevada’s silver boom. Founded after rich ore discoveries in 1900, it quickly became one of the most important mining camps in the state, drawing prospectors, financiers, engineers, and speculators into the remote desert. By the time this map was made, Tonopah had long passed its most feverish boom years, yet its identity remained anchored in extraction, transportation, and rugged self-sufficiency. The map captures that quieter mid-century phase: a compact settlement set among hills, draws, and mineralized ground, connected by roads but still surrounded by immense open space. It is a portrait of a frontier town after the rush, enduring within the landscape that created it.

The US Geological Survey’s hand is evident in the disciplined clarity of the cartography. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the nation’s principal authority for mapping terrain, water, minerals, and natural hazards, and its quadrangles are among the most recognizable achievements of American scientific cartography. During the 1960s, the agency expanded and refined its topographic program, producing maps that served engineers, planners, geologists, military users, miners, and travelers alike. This Tonopah sheet reflects that era’s confidence in systematic observation: contour lines articulate every rise and hollow, while roads and cultural features are integrated without overwhelming the terrain. It is not merely a map of place, but a measured scientific interpretation of Nevada’s landforms.

The surrounding country is rendered with particular force through its contours, which reveal the rugged basin-and-range character of central Nevada. Woodson Mountain and Monument Peak rise as defining features, their slopes expressed in tightly spaced lines that suggest steep gradients and hard geologic structure. Hayfield Draw and other dry channels trace the intermittent logic of desert drainage, where water is episodic but topographically decisive. Saddles of varying elevations link ridges and basins, giving the map a rhythmic sense of ascent and descent across arid ground. The earthy palette suits the subject beautifully, emphasizing relief, exposed land, and sparse vegetation rather than decorative flourish. Every hill and valley feels shaped by erosion, uplift, and mineral time.

Nevada State Route 6 appears as an important thread through the composition, tying Tonopah to wider regional movement across a vast and thinly populated landscape. In the decades after this map’s publication, the area continued to evolve through changes in mining, transportation, infrastructure, and settlement patterns, making the sheet a valuable snapshot of Tonopah before later alterations accumulated. Its historical interest lies not only in what it names, but in what it preserves: the relationship between a mining town and the desert architecture around it. For collectors drawn to the American West, geology, and the understated beauty of official cartography, “Tonopah” offers a refined and deeply place-specific view of Nevada’s high country.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Tonopah
• Woodson Mountain
• Monument Peak
• Hayfield Draw
• Saddles with various elevations indicated
• Nevada State Route 6
• Unnamed hills and valleys
• Surrounding areas of the Tonopah Quadrangle

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by: US Geological Survey (USGS)
• Date of creation: 1960; published in 1961
• Scale and type: Historical 1:24,000 topographical map
• Location shown: Tonopah, Nevada and the surrounding area
• Mapmaker context: The US Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the U.S. government known for mapping, studying, and monitoring the landscape, resources, and natural hazards of the United States.
• 1960s USGS context: The 1960s were significant for the USGS as the agency expanded its mapping and research capabilities.
• Cartographic design: Clear contour lines represent elevation changes and topography.
• Color scheme: Earthy tones highlight the varying landforms.
• Topographic character: The map shows rugged Nevada terrain, including hills, valleys, and mountain ranges.
• Historical significance: Since publication, the Tonopah area has changed due to mining activity, population shifts, infrastructure development, and natural landscape changes.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.