1963 Map of Samson Lake

About this map

Industrial expansion and high-desert terrain define this corner of McKinley County during the early 1960s. The northwest quadrant is dominated by the McKinley Mine and a nearby Strip Mine, with a dedicated Tipple indicating active coal operations. Transportation is centered on the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad, which snakes through the landscape alongside a prominent Pipeline. Notable natural landmarks include the broad Torrivio Mesa and the drainage of Defiance Draw, which cuts across the central plains toward Samson Lake. To the south, the Puerco River and the uniquely named Burned Through the Rock Wash illustrate the complex hydrology of this arid region. The map captures a moment of heavy industrial infrastructure integrated into a landscape of flats like Blue Grass Flat and scattered mesas.