1918 Map of Oscura Peak

About this map

The Oscura Range dominates this Central New Mexico landscape during a period of transition between early ranching and industrial expansion. Small settlements and family holdings such as Sedillo, Bursum, and Malls Ranch are scattered across the high desert, many situated near critical water sources like Willow Spring or isolated Tanks. The map reveals the early 20th-century economic drivers of the region, from the Iron Mine tucked into the slopes to the E P & S W railroad cutting through the eastern flats. This reconnaissance survey by N.H. Darton provides a rare look at the area before modern development, marking historical transit points like Upper Crossing and Mockingbird Gap. The eastern edge is defined by the geological expanse of The Malpais, while the northern portion reaches into the Manzano National Forest, showing a territory where survival depended on thin networks of roads and reliable springs.