1953 Map of Grand Canyon

About this map

The Colorado River carves a massive course across this mid-century landscape, defining the boundaries of the Kaibab Plateau and the Shivwits Plateau. The map illustrates a complex network of geological features and early infrastructure, including the terminus of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Ry at the settlement of Grand Canyon. Tribal lands are prominent, with the Kaibab Indian Reservation in the north near Fredonia and the Hualpai Indian Reservation south of the river. Beyond the major canyons, the map details the arid basins of Bulrush Wash and the remote peaks of the Virgin Mountains in the west. This 1950s data, revised in the late 1960s, documents the region before modern mass-tourism development, highlighting isolated outposts like Hermits Rest and Cane Beds.