1959 Map of Navajo Dam

About this map

Navajo Dam stands as the central engineering feat of this 1950s landscape, captured just as the Navajo Reservoir began to transform the confluence of the Los Pinos River and the San Juan River. The map meticulously records the transition from a river-valley economy to a managed water system, noting areas subject to controlled inundation and the emergence of Navajo City. While modern infrastructure like the Landing Strip and various pipelines appear, the map also preserves traces of much older habitation, including a Cliff Dwelling and a small Cem near the dam site.