1957 Map of Grants SE

About this map

The Malpais dominates this landscape, revealing a frozen expanse of lava flows that define the geological character of the region. The volcanic terrain is flanked by the towering Las Ventanas Ridge to the east and Horace Mesa to the northeast. Human passage through this environment is dictated by the corridor of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, which follows the path of the Rio San Jose through the canyon at El Cañoncito. Water sources are sparse but critical markers on the map, including Laguna del Chical and Rancho del Padre Spring. Much of the eastern and southern territory is situated within the Acoma Pueblo Indian Reservation and Grant Boundary, where the map documents infrastructure like a Microwave Station and various jeep trails crossing the desert floor.