1958 Map of Shiprock

About this map

Shiprock and the surrounding high desert of the Four Corners region are documented here during the mid-1950s, a period of transition for the Navajo Indian Reservation. The map reveals a landscape defined by an extensive network of trading posts, including Burnham, Bisti, and the Old Simpson Trading Post, which served as vital economic hubs for remote communities. Along the northern corridor, the San Juan River supports more concentrated settlements like Farmington, Fruitland, and Kirtland. The terrain is dominated by the massive Lukachukai Mountains, rising to the heights of Pastora Peak and Roof Butte. To the west, the intricate drainages of Canyon de Chelly and Canyon del Muerto carve through the plateau. This survey also notes early industrial activity in the region, marking a Uranium prospect and various gravel pits amidst the traditional land holdings of the Ute Mountain Indian Reservation.