1961 Map of Laguna Seca

About this map

Cibola National Forest encompasses this high-altitude landscape on the boundary of McKinley and Sandoval counties as it appeared in the early 1960s. The terrain is defined by deep canyons and prominent mesas, notably the expansive Mesa de la Vereda Piedra Blanca and Valle de las Animas. Small settlements and named locales like La Jolla de Santa Rosa and Eagle Nest suggest a history of localized grazing or ranching, supported by a network of water sources including Guadalupe Spring and Laguna Seca. The presence of the Guadalupe Ranger Station indicates the importance of federal land management in this era. The map also records the complex historical land divisions through labels such as the Grant Boundary and the long-named Nuestra Señora de la Luz de las Lagunitas, which reflect New Mexico's deep Spanish land grant heritage.