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1966 Map of The Pillar

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of The Pillar
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

The Navajo Indian Reservation landscape across this corner of San Juan County is defined by its arid drainage networks and high mesas. The terrain is dominated by the Moncisco Mesa and the distinctive landmark known as The Pillar, while the lower elevations are carved by the Pinabete Arroyo and Brimhall Wash. These seasonal waterways provided the primary topographical relief for the region as it appeared in the mid-1960s.

Industrial activity is evident through the presence of several petroleum extraction sites, including a named Oil Well and multiple drill holes concentrated within the Bisti Field. These labels, along with markers for Brimhall and scattered springs, indicate the sparse infrastructure of the era, where resource exploration and traditional land use overlapped within the reservation boundaries. This 1966 field-checked survey offers a precise record of the geological and industrial character of the northwestern New Mexico high desert.