1961 Map of Pecos

About this map

The Pecos River carves a deep valley through this northern New Mexico landscape, dominated by the ancient cultural heritage at Pecos State Monument Ruins. This 1961 field-checked survey reveals a complex mix of religious, industrial, and recreational land use, from the Benedictine Monastery and the Lisboa Springs Fish Hatchery in Alexander Valle to the Fairview Lode Mine in the northwest. The presence of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line running parallel to Glorieta Creek underscores the region's historical importance as a transit corridor. Settlement patterns are concentrated in Pecos and East Pecos, while the surrounding Santa Fe National Forest is marked by steep canyons like Alamitos Canyon and the expansive heights of Rowe Peak. Traces of the cattle-ranching era are evident at the Forked Lightning Ranch near the Trading Post on the southern river bends.