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1957 Map of Arch Mesa

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Arch Mesa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1990
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1990

About this map

The Laguna Indian Reservation and the Canoncito Navajo Indian Reservation meet amidst the high mesas and deep canyons of this 1957 survey. The landscape is defined by massive plateaus including Arch Mesa, Herrera Mesa, and Cebolleta Mesa, which rise above a network of seasonal drainages like Canada de los Alamos and Arroyo de Zia. This area preserves complex land tenure history, clearly delineating the boundaries between the Paguate Purchase Grant and the Cebolleta Grant.

Cultural traces are sparse but significant, marked by scattered ruins and essential water infrastructure for ranching. Ranchers relied on landmarks such as Meyer Windmill and Hackberry Windmill, while geographic markers like Standing Rock provided orientation in the absence of established towns. A single Jeep Trail winds through the terrain, illustrating the limited access to these high desert reaches during the mid-twentieth century.