1955 Map of Sonsala Butte 3 NW

About this map

Canyon De Chelly National Monument reveals a landscape defined by deep sandstone incisions and significant archaeological sites within the Navajo Indian Reservation. This 1955 survey provides a look at the ancestral and contemporary Navajo presence on the Defiance Plateau before the widespread modernization of the late 20th century. Notable landmarks include the Navajo Fortress, Antelope House, and several complex cliff dwellings like the Battle Cove Ruins and Standing Cow Ruins. The map traces a network of unpaved routes, such as the Baby Foot Trail and various Jeep Trails, which served as the primary means of navigating the sheer-walled drainages of Canyon Del Muerto and Many Cherry Canyon. A centralized community point is established at the Canyon Del Muerto School, while numerous ruins and a Windmill indicate the localized patterns of residence and land use across the high plateau.