1919 Map of Maravillas Canyon

About this map

Maravillas Canyon and its complex network of secondary drainages like Big Canyon and Dog Canyon define this high-desert landscape in Brewster County. In 1917, as surveyors from the U.S. Geological Survey and the War Department mapped this border region, human presence was tied closely to water sources. Named ranch sites such as Stillwell Ranch, Pettit Ranch, and Rockhouse Ranch are positioned near key landmarks like Waterholes or the Rio Grande. This period reflects the early twentieth-century ranching era before the establishment of modern protected lands, where life revolved around precarious water features like Hole in the ground Tank and Bee Cave Tank. The southern border follows the winding path of the Rio Grande, marking the international boundary between the United States and Mexico near the state of Coahuila. High points such as Cupola Mtn and Stairway Mtn provide significant vertical relief in this desert environment.