Loading map...

1899 Map of Mt. Taylor

Name: 1899 Topographic Map of Mt. Taylor
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1899
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1899

About this map

Mt. Taylor 11389 anchors this late-19th-century reconnaissance of the high desert, rising above the San Mateo Mts and the surrounding volcanic terrain of the Lava Field. The region's transport network is defined by the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad and the Rio San Jose corridor, which connects a string of early settlements including Grant, Cubero, and Laguna. To the north, the landscape is punctuated by massive landforms like Chacra Mesa and the sharp profile of Cabezon Peak.

Cultural landmarks are concentrated in the southern valleys and along the Puerco River, where locations such as Old Fort Wingate and Miller P.O. reflect the era's military and postal history. Smaller agricultural and ranching outposts like Cebolleta, Juan Tafoya, and San Mateo are situated near vital water sources like Coal Spring and Willow Spring, providing a clear picture of how early New Mexico families utilized the intermittent drainages of the high plateau.