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1955 Map of Sonsala Butte 1 SW

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Sonsala Butte 1 SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Navajo Indian Reservation landscape in the mid-1950s is defined by the dramatic transition from the high elevations of the Tunticha Mountains down into the complex drainage systems of the plateau. Near the northern edge, the Upper Greasewood Trading Post stands as a focal point for commerce and community, situated alongside Greasewood Wash. This area reveals the essential role of water management in a high-desert environment, evidenced by numerous small dams and reservoirs such as Reservoir WL 7255 that dot the seasonal watercourses.

To the south, the terrain descends toward the iconic Canyon De Chelly National Monument, specifically tracing the upper reaches of Canyon del Muerto. Cultural landmarks like St Ann Church and the Sheep Dip Corral provide tangible evidence of Din pastoral life and the intersection of traditional and mission-based activities. Surveyed just before the expansion of modern infrastructure, the map preserves the exact locations of these landmarks beneath the shadow of Matthews Peak and the spire of Black Pinnacle.