1953 Map of Tidwell 2 SW

About this map

The San Rafael Desert occupies this 1953 preliminary study, revealing a landscape defined by dramatic shifts in elevation and hydraulic drainage. The eastern portion of the sheet is dominated by an arid plateau, where the Water Well (Aband'd) suggests the historical challenges of sustaining life or livestock in this environment. To the west, the topography breaks sharply into a series of steep ridges and cliffs, where drainage features like Straight Wash and Iron Wash have carved distinct paths through the sediment. Produced from aerial photographs taken in 1952, this map documents the area's natural state before further modern development, focusing on the intricate network of seasonal waterways like Breasewood Draw that channel water from the high ridges down into the desert floor.