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1945 Map of Carlsbad Caverns East

Name: 1945 Topographic Map of Carlsbad Caverns East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

Carlsbad Caverns National Park dominates the northwest corner of this 1945 survey, marking the subterranean wonders of the Guadalupe Mountains during an era of expanding federal preservation. The map locates the historic Cavern Entrance and nearby Bat Cave, while detailing the rugged network of canyons like Walnut Canyon and Rattlesnake Canyon that descend toward the plains.

Outside the park boundaries, the landscape is defined by the ranching economy of Eddy County, New Mexico, and the northern edge of Culberson County, Texas. The presence of two Bombing Targets reflects the region's mid-century military importance. Genealogists can trace a dense network of family-named sites, from the Julian Smith Cem to numerous homesteads such as Old Duval Place and the Dillahunty Ranch, illustrating the sparse but determined settlement pattern near the Black River.