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1938 Map of Santiago Peak

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Santiago Peak
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

The Santiago Mountains dominate this high-desert landscape of Brewster County, anchored by the prominent elevation of Santiago Peak. Originally surveyed in 1917 by R.B. Marshall and C.H. Birdseye, this 1938 edition reflects a landscape defined by large-scale ranching and isolated water sources. The terrain is marked by steep canyons and dry washes, most notably Bear Canyon and the winding Chalk Draw, which carve through the volcanic and sedimentary formations of the Big Bend region.

Scattered settlements are almost exclusively cattle operations, such as Combs Cattle Co Ranch and the Buttrill Ranch, illustrating the vast acreage required for livestock in this arid environment. Key transit routes are indicated as simple trails leading To Marathon and To Boquillas, while hydrological features like Maravillas Creek and the Maravillas Gap suggest the natural corridors used for movement across the broken country. Other local landmarks like Black Mtn and Three Mile Hill provide essential orientation in this sparsely populated territory.