1957 Map of Arch Mesa

About this map

The Canoncito Navajo Indian Reservation and the Laguna Indian Reservation meet in this high-altitude landscape, where the land is deeply carved by intermittent drainages. In the late 1950s, this area remained largely undeveloped, characterized by massive landforms like Arch Mesa and Herrera Mesa. The terrain is defined by its drainages, including Canada de los Apaches and Arroyo Piedra Lumbre, which cut through the Paguate Purchase Grant. Numerous Ruins are scattered across the mesas and within the canyons, suggesting a long history of human presence in this arid environment.