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1967 Map of Fort Garland

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Fort Garland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The Old Fort Garland Military Reservation (Museum) serves as the historic anchor for this portion of the Sangre de Cristo Grant during the late 1960s. The landscape reflects a legacy of frontier defense and high-altitude agriculture, where the Denver and Rio Grande Western railroad cuts across the San Luis Valley floor. To the east, the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains give way to a complex irrigation network of ditches and canals, including the Trinchera Canal and Garland Ditch, which redirect water from alpine sources like Ute Creek toward the valley's ranching operations.

Genealogical researchers will find significant family history markers in the numerous rural burial grounds, such as MacMullan Cem and Brennaman Cem. The map also captures local civic infrastructure like the Sierra Grande Sch and the Skinkle Landing Strip, illustrating the community's reliance on both traditional land grants and modern transport. The convergence of Sangre de Cristo Creek and Trinchera Creek near Fort Garland highlights the vital role of water management in this arid environment.