1963 Map of Thumb Tank Peak

About this map

Grandview Mesa dominates this 1963 survey of the high desert between the Black Range and the Rio Grande valley. This landscape is defined by its isolation and the critical importance of water, evidenced by the numerous improved water sources scattered across the dry canyons. Settlements are sparse, represented by ranching outposts like Evans Ranch, Avilas Camp, and Lobo Camp. The intricate network of seasonal drainages, including the North Fork Palomas Creek and the southern Salado Creek, dictates the movement of people and livestock. Topographic features such as Thumb Tank Peak and the Garcia Peaks serve as essential landmarks in an area where historical navigation relied on the Cross O Trail. The presence of named water points like Nation Well and Sophie Spring illustrates the hard-won infrastructure of mid-century Southwestern cattle ranching.