1923 Map of Hess Canyon

About this map

Glass Mountains terrain dominates this 1920s survey of Brewster County, revealing a network of remote ranching outposts and high-altitude landmarks. In the northern reaches, the Old Parker Place and Old Oscar Nance Place sit tucked into deep drainages like Hess Canyon and Burnt House Canyon. This era of West Texas land use is defined by isolated family settlements such as the Youngblood Place and Dessie Ranch, connected only by primitive trails leading toward distant rail hubs. Along the southern flats, the Kincaid-Taylor Ranch and Martin Ranch represent the sprawling pastoral economy of the early twentieth century. The boundary between Brewster and Pecos counties cuts diagonally across the mountain peaks, passing just south of Sanderson Cabin. This survey provides a precise look at the geography of the Trans-Pecos before modern infrastructure reshaped the high desert landscape.