1964 Map of Sawik Mountain

About this map

The architectural landmark Taliesin West sits at the base of the McDowell Mountains, overlooking the developing suburbs of Scottsdale. This mid-1960s survey, updated with late-1970s suburban growth shown in purple, illustrates the desert's transformation as residential tracts push against the Salt River Indian Reservation Boundary. Evidence of the region's deep history is preserved near the mountains at a site marked for Petroglyphs, while modern infrastructure like the Arizona Canal and the Beeline Dragway define the lower landscape. The transition from open desert to organized streets is marked by major corridors like Shea Boulevard and Cactus Road, while the southern edge follows the life-giving water systems near Evergreen Station and several Gaging Stations.