1918 Map of Reagan Canyon

About this map

The Rio Grande carves a deep boundary through this remote stretch of Brewster County, where the 1917 survey captures a landscape defined by sharp elevation changes and early borderland industry. A notable industrial presence is the Wax Factory, situated near the riverbanks south of Big Canyon. This site represents the historical harvest of candelilla wax from native desert plants, a significant local trade in the early twentieth century. Moving further south along the river, Horn's Ranch serves as a lone human outpost in an area dominated by intricate topographic features like Las Vegas De Los Ladrones. Transportation through this steep terrain is limited to the Seminole Trail and the Old Trail, indicating the importance of established paths for navigating between the river and the inner canyons of Reagan Canyon.