1952 Map of Carlisle 2 NE

About this map

The Colorado River carves a dramatic oxbow at the Goose Neck in this high-desert landscape of the early 1950s. This survey, mapped just before the area became a centerpiece of national park preservation, reveals a territory defined by complex topography and livestock grazing history. High mesas like Red Sea Flat and sheltered basins such as Steer Pasture and Gray Pasture dominate the western portion of the sheet. Evidence of deep-time habitation is recorded with the marking of a Cliff Dwelling, while later land use is suggested by remote water sources like Cabin Spring, Neck Spring, and Willow Seep. The proximity of Aztec Butte and the narrow land bridge known as The Neck highlights the unique geological formations that controlled movement through this canyon country prior to modern road developments.