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1963 Map of El Morro

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of El Morro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

El Morro National Monument stands as the centerpiece of this West-Central New Mexico landscape, preserving the massive sandstone promontory where travelers for centuries carved their names into the soft rock. Known locally as Inscription Rock, this landmark is surrounded by archaeological evidence of ancient habitation, including multiple Pueblo Ruins and the Pueblito site. The terrain transition is sharp, moving from the open plains of Sand Corner to the elevated, timbered slopes of the Cibola National Forest and the Zuni Mountains to the north.

The map details the local geography of the early 1960s, including the Tinaja Cem and the Tinaja (Site) east of the main monument. Water sources, vital in this arid environment, are clearly marked through Alamosa Canyon and Little Water Canyon. Topographical features like Obe Worthen Mesa and Charlie Barns Gap define the southern portion of the quadrangle, illustrating the land use patterns around the national forest boundary.