1963 Map of Sunshine Mesa

About this map

Sunshine Mesa dominates this arid landscape of east-central New Mexico, where the infrastructure of early 1960s ranching and rail transport is clearly documented. The northern reach of the map is defined by the dual corridors of the Southern Pacific and the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroads, which parallel one another through the settlement of Los Tanos. This area is shaped by a critical reliance on water management, evidenced by a series of named windmills—such as the West Buck Trap and Little Spring Pasture—that support ranching operations like the Moorhouse Ranch. The historical geography is further anchored by the East Boundary Jose Perea Grant, reflecting the region's legacy of Spanish and Mexican land grants. Below the mesa, the terrain is carved by the Arroyo San Juan de Dios, while rare water bodies like Nine Hundred Acre Lake provide distinct landmarks in the desert environment.