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1943 Map of Carlsbad Caverns West

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Carlsbad Caverns West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

Carlsbad Caverns National Park defines the central landscape of this 1940s survey, revealing a subterranean network of landmarks including Painted Grotto, Midnight Cave, and New Cave. The surface is characterized by a series of deep canyons, such as Slaughter Canyon and Double Canyon, which cut through the limestone terrain toward the Black River. This era shows a working ranching landscape bordering the federal preserve, where family names are tied to remote outposts like Montgomery Ranch, Leeman Ranch, and Robinson Ranch.

Evidence of earlier settlement is found at Queen (Ruins) and the nearby Queen Cem, marking a site that had already begun its transition from a town to a historical footnote by the time of this survey. Notable water sources like Sitting Bull Falls and the Carson Seep Ranger Sta highlight the importance of scattered springs and seeps for survival in this arid environment. The map also records the boundary line between New Mexico and Texas, where the Trimble Hills and Hess Hills overlook the rugged transition into Culberson County.