1899 Map of Mt. Taylor

About this map

Mt. Taylor anchors the high country of this late nineteenth-century reconnaissance, rising above a landscape of mesas and volcanic remnants. This region of northwest New Mexico shows the established rail corridor of the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad following the San Jose River, connecting vital early settlements like Grant and San Jose. Further north, the terrain transitions into the high sandstone plateaus of Chacra Mesa and Prieta Mesa, where smaller outposts like Cabezon and Guadalupe Casa Salazar sit along the winding Puerco River. The map highlights a diverse human geography ranging from the military history of Old Fort Wingate to the traditional mountain villages of San Mateo and Cebolleta. Geological features are prominent, specifically the massive Lava Field southwest of the peaks and the isolated volcanic plugs like Cabezon Peak.