1955 Map of Verdure 4 NW

About this map

Daltons Ranch sits on the western edge of this mid-century landscape, a pocket of human activity within a complex system of deep drainages. The most prominent of these, Montezuma Canyon, carves through the southwestern portion of the sheet, where researchers can find evidence of much earlier habitation at the Cliff Dwelling. This preliminary edition, based on 1953 aerial photography, reveals a high desert environment shaped by both water and resource extraction, including an unnamed Mine and several scattered water collection points labeled Reservoir. Higher ground is defined by broad mesas and overlooks like Pears Point and Horsehead, which are connected by the primitive track of Horsehead Road. The intricate contouring of Bigwater Canyon demonstrates the difficulty of the terrain during this era of post-war geographic mapping in San Juan County.