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1952 Map of Puye

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Puye
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Santa Clara Indian Reservation land dominates this 1952 landscape, showcasing a high plateau environment deeply incised by drainage systems like Santa Clara Creek and Guaje Canyon. The map provides significant archaeological context, marking ancient Indian Ruins and Cliff Dwellings near the ancestral site of Puye. This era reflects the post-war industrial demand for local minerals, evidenced by the General Pumice Mine and several other pumice workings and an Ore Chute scattered across the mesas.

To the south, the boundary of the Bandelier National Monument meets the San Ildefonso Pueblo Grant, highlighting a complex intersection of federal protected land and tribal territory. Significant topographical features like Otowi Mesa and Kwage Mesa define the local relief, while the Rio Grande skirts the eastern edge. Small settlements such as Totavi appear alongside the development of gravel operations, illustrating the mid-century transition from traditional land use to resource extraction.