1915 Map of Soda Canyon

About this map

Mesa Verde National Park is defined here by its complex topography of elevated mesas and deep drainage systems, including Soda Canyon and Moccasin Canyon. Surveyed in the early 1910s, this map captures the region's archaeology at a critical period of identification, documenting the precise locations of the Cliff Palace, Sun Temple, and Balcony House. The Southern Ute Indian Reservation occupies the southern half of the sheet, where the Mancos River cuts through the terrain. The map reflects a landscape of early 20th-century exploration, noting sparse improvements such as the Waters Ranch and the established Government Road. Beyond the major ruins, smaller sites like Casa Colorado, Swallows Nest, and the Double Walled Tower are marked, providing a dense record of ancestral dwellings and towers as they were recorded by R.W. Berry and C.A. Ecklund.