{"product_id":"old-map-of-chiricahua-national-monument-arizona-by-usgs-1950-apache-pass-portal-san-simon-valley","title":"Old Map of Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona by USGS, 1950 – Apache Pass, Portal \u0026 San Simon Valley","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1952 from 1950 cartographic work, the US Geological Survey’s “Cochise Head” presents a finely observed portrait of southeastern Arizona’s rugged borderland, centered on Chiricahua National Monument and its surrounding mountain country. At a scale of 1:62,500, it captures a landscape where volcanic pinnacles, high ridges, dry washes, and desert valleys meet in dramatic relief. The title evokes Cochise, the celebrated Chiricahua Apache leader, and the wider region remains deeply associated with Apache history, frontier movement, and the difficult terrain that shaped both settlement and resistance. With its disciplined topographic language and measured precision, the map records not merely a place, but a landscape of cultural memory and geological spectacle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US Geological Survey, established in 1879, became the authoritative cartographic voice of the American landscape, translating mountains, rivers, mineral districts, and settlement patterns into maps of exceptional clarity. “Cochise Head” reflects the Survey’s mid-century mastery of topographical design: contour lines trace elevation with patient exactitude, while bold color gradients emphasize the rise and fall of the terrain. The result is both scientific and visually compelling, a map that invites close study of ridgelines, basins, passes, and drainage systems. In this sheet, the USGS renders one of Arizona’s most intricate landscapes with the rigor of field survey and the elegance of a mature national mapping tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChiricahua National Monument is the central marvel of the map, a protected landscape famed for its extraordinary rhyolite formations, hoodoos, balanced rocks, and forested canyons. Often described as a “wonderland of rocks,” the monument preserves the eroded remains of ancient volcanic activity, shaped over millions of years into spires and labyrinthine corridors. The map’s contours reveal why this terrain feels so dramatic on the ground: steep slopes, narrow ravines, and abrupt elevation changes crowd the sheet with visual energy. Around the monument, the mapped landscape suggests a meeting place of ecological zones, where desert grasslands, oak woodlands, pine forests, and canyon habitats create remarkable biodiversity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond the monument, the map reaches toward Apache Pass, Turkey Creek, Portal, Cave Creek, Cochise Lake, and the headwaters of the San Simon River. These names anchor the topography in the lived geography of travel, water, and settlement. Apache Pass, in particular, carries historical resonance as a strategic corridor through the Chiricahua Mountains, long important to Indigenous movement, military campaigns, and overland routes. The San Simon Valley and nearby drainage systems reveal the importance of scarce water in an arid region, while trails and roads thread cautiously through the relief. Every route appears conditioned by the terrain, bending around ridges, following washes, and seeking passage through mountain gaps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical record, “Cochise Head” preserves the southeastern Arizona landscape at a moment before later conservation policies, infrastructure changes, and expanding development altered many parts of the region. Its careful depiction of landforms and land use offers a mid-twentieth-century view of a place where geology, ecology, and human history are inseparable. The distinctive combination of shaded color and crisp linework makes the map especially evocative: it conveys the harshness of desert basins and the complexity of mountain interiors with equal authority. For collectors drawn to the American Southwest, this is a richly atmospheric document of Chiricahua country—precise, storied, and alive with the contours of a remarkable terrain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChiricahua National Monument\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApache Pass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTurkey Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePortal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSan Simon Valley\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCochise Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCave Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHead of the San Simon River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNearby mountain ranges and peaks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrails and roads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey, this historical topographical map shows Chiricahua National Monument in Arizona and the surrounding area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map is dated 1950 and carries a 1952 imprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: 1:62,500.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublished by the US Geological Survey, known for its detailed geological, hydrological, and topographical surveys of the United States.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChiricahua National Monument is recognized for its extensive rock formations and biodiversity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map features bold color gradients to represent elevation changes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed contour lines show the mountainous terrain, including ridges, valleys, and prominent peaks.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColored shading and black-and-white linework are used to distinguish different terrain features.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map provides historical insight into the landscape around Chiricahua National Monument in the early 20th century, including geological formations and land use that may have changed due to conservation efforts and urban development.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":59901488300416,"sku":null,"price":83.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59901488333184,"sku":null,"price":223.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":59901488365952,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":59901488398720,"sku":null,"price":83.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59901488431488,"sku":null,"price":223.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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