1955 Map of Buell Park

About this map

Fort Defiance and the timber-focused settlement at Sawmill anchor this mid-century topographic record of the Navajo Nation interior. The landscape is defined by the high elevations of the Chuska Mountains and the distinct volcanic feature of Buell Park, a nearly circular depression surrounded by landmarks like Peridot Ridge and Sterrett Mesa. Surveyed just after the war years, the map reveals a network of primitive infrastructure, including a Jeep Trail and a Pipeline cutting across the high desert terrain. Local water sources are meticulously documented, from Tokezje Spring to the seasonal flow of Bonito Creek, reflecting their vital importance to the high plateau economy. Natural landmarks like Fluted Rock Lookout and Piney Hill Lookout provide orientation across the expanse of the Navajo Indian Reservation, while the northeastern corner shows the jagged breaks of Red Valley and the rising slopes of Zilditloi Mtn.