1896 Map of Ruidosa

About this map

The Rio Grande carves a sharp boundary between the United States and Mexico in this late 19th-century survey of the Big Bend region. Along the river's winding course, small settlements and outposts such as Ruidosa, Roderigo, and Spencer's Ranch mark the limited human footprint in a landscape dominated by the high peaks of the Chinati Mountains. The map illustrates the topographical challenges of the era, with deep drainage systems like Pinto Canyon and San Antonio Canyon cutting through the highlands toward the river valley.