1955 Map of Sonsala Butte 4 SW

About this map

Defiance Plateau high country defines this 1950s survey of the high desert, where the northern reaches of the Navajo Indian Reservation meet the dramatic geological boundaries of Canyon De Chelly National Monument. The settlement of White Clay stands as the primary human landmark amidst a landscape of seasonal drainage systems like Coyote Wash and Whiskey Creek. This era of the plateau is characterized by a reliance on scattered water resources, evidenced by the numerous reservoirs, springs, and an isolated Windmill dotting the terrain. The map captures the complex topography of the Canyon De Chelly area before modern infrastructure expanded, showing a network of unimproved trails and early roads that connected remote homesteads and grazing lands across the Apache County highlands.