1954 Map of Emmett Wash NE

About this map

The Vermilion Cliffs and the Paria Plateau dominate this 1954 topographic survey, illustrating the dramatic geological transitions of the Arizona high desert. This preliminary edition captures a landscape defined by sharp elevation drops and arid drainage systems like Emmett Wash and Rock Wash, which eventually feed toward the Colorado River in the southeast. Human presence is sparse but concentrated along the route of Highway 89, where the Cliff Dwellers Lodge and a nearby Landing Strip served mid-century travelers and adventurers. Further south and west, isolated outposts such as Lowery, Kram Ranch, and a lone House indicate the remote ranching and residential sites that persisted in this challenging environment. The map provides a precise record of bench marks and vertical angles used by surveyors to navigate the complex verticality of the cliffs and plateaus before modern developments altered the region.