1921 Map of Monument Spring

About this map

Old Fort Pena Colorado stands as a focal point in this 1921 survey of the Trans-Pecos region, situated along the Pena Colorado Creek. The landscape is dominated by the massive ridge lines of the Del Norte Mountains and the northern edge of the Santiago Mountains, which channeled early movement through the high desert. The transportation network of the era is clearly defined by the Southern Pacific System and the Galveston Harrisburg and San Antonio RR, providing vital connections for ranching operations like the Combs Headquarters Ranch and Decie Ranch. Grounded in work by surveyors like R.C. Seitz and R.R. Monbeck, the map records essential water sources including Sunshine Springs, Mud Spring, and the namesake Monument Spring, which were critical to the survival of the scattered cattle ranches and the burgeoning town of Marathon.