1953 Map of Bland

About this map

Bland (Ghost Town) sits at the heart of this landscape, reflecting the boom-and-bust mining history of the San Miguel Mountains. The map details the Cochiti Mining District, where operations like the Washington Group and the Valle Grande Pumice Mine were once active. This region in the Santa Fe National Forest is defined by a complex network of canyons, including Cochiti Canyon and Bland Canyon, which shaped the early access routes and settlement patterns for homesteads such as the Bruce Place and Evans-Griffin Place. The transition from the high peaks of Rabbit Mountain to the private boundaries of Baca Location No 1 illustrates the varied land use between timber, mining, and ranching in the mid-20th century. High-elevation access is provided by the Sawyer Road and St Peters Dome Road, crossing between the Sandoval and Los Alamos county borders.