1889 Map of Chaco

About this map

The San Juan River and its major tributaries, the Animas River and La Plata River, anchor this reconnaissance of northwestern New Mexico. This late-nineteenth-century survey captures the early footprint of settlements like Farmington, Aztec, and Jewett at the confluence of these vital watercourses. The landscape transition is stark, moving from the river valleys into the high elevations of the Chuska Mts and the prominent Beautiful Mountain. Southeast of the river systems, the map documents a network of water sources essential for travel and survival in the arid high desert, including Sheep Spring, Sulphur Spring, and the isolated Seven Lakes. Topography recorded by W.W. Davis and the Hayden Survey shows the complex drainage of the Chaco River and the distinct landmark of the Needle, providing a detailed look at the region's geography before modern development.