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1955 Map of Tortugas Mountain

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Tortugas Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Tortugas Mountain dominates the central landscape of this Dona Ana County survey, where the arid terrain is defined by a complex network of ephemeral drainage systems including Alameda Arroyo and Fillmore Arroyo. To the west, the campus of New Mexico State College sits alongside infrastructure such as a local Airfield and Rodeo Arena. The map provides a detailed view of the regional water management strategy of the mid-1950s, highlighting several catchment structures like Alameda Dam, North Fork Dam, and Little Dam.

Cultural and historical markers are scattered throughout the desert, from the Standard Mine on the slopes of the mountain to the Fort Fillmore (Ruins) in the southwest corner. The legacy of Spanish and Mexican land grants is visible in the boundaries of the Dona Ana Bend Colony and Mesilla Civil Colony. Long thoroughfares like Dripping Springs Road and Soledad Canyon Road trace the paths toward the high ground to the east.