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1952 Map of Agathla Peak

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Agathla Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Navajo Indian Reservation lands dominate this mid-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by iconic sandstone formations and archaeological sites. The terrain is marked by the presence of numerous ancestral habitations, including the Pueblo Site, several instances of Cliff Dwelling, and the intriguing House-of-Hands (Cave). These cultural sites are interspersed among the famous spires of Monument Valley, where West Mitten Butte, East Mitten Butte, and the Totem Pole stand as prominent landmarks.

Logistics in this arid region center on water sources like Goulding Well and Sand Springs, while the southern reaches are defined by Agathla Peak (El Capitan) and the sprawling drainage of Laguna Creek. The map records a moment before heavy modernization, documenting remote trading outposts and traditional Navajo place names like Tse Biyi and Tseya Neechee, providing a detailed look at the geographic relationship between the natural monuments and the area's deep human history.