Published in 1961 from 1959 mapping, the USGS “Moab 4 SE” quadrangle captures a defining corner of southeastern Utah at a revealing mid-century moment. Centered on the country around Moab, the map records a landscape where the Colorado River, desert benches, cliff lines, washes, roads, and scattered cultural features meet in the dramatic red-rock terrain for which the region is now famous. At a detailed 1:24,000 scale, it offers the intimate precision of a field map rather than the broad sweep of an atlas sheet. The title itself has the spare authority of the USGS quadrangle system, placing this sheet within a nationwide project to measure, classify, and make legible the American landscape.

The United States Geological Survey brought to this map the institutional rigor that made its topographic series indispensable to engineers, geologists, land managers, prospectors, and travelers. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the principal federal authority for mapping terrain, watercourses, mineral resources, and the physical structure of the United States. In “Moab 4 SE,” that scientific mandate is visible in every contour, symbol, and annotation. The map is not merely a guide to location; it is an interpretation of landform, slope, drainage, access, and elevation. Its careful depiction of southeastern Utah reflects the postwar period’s expanding interest in natural resources, infrastructure, and public lands, when accurate topographic knowledge was central to both development and conservation.

The cartographic power of this sheet lies in its contour work, which translates Moab’s rugged terrain into a precise visual language. Closely spaced lines mark steep slopes, cliffs, and abrupt breaks in elevation, while broader intervals open across benches, valleys, and gentler ground. The Colorado River anchors the composition as both a geographic and geological force, carving through the surrounding plateau and helping define the settlement patterns around Moab. Nearby landforms evoke the broader canyon country: rock formations, draws, ridges, depressions, and arid drainage channels appear with clarity and restraint. Roads, tracks, and trails thread through the terrain, showing how human movement adapted to a landscape shaped by erosion, uplift, and stone.

As a historical document, “Moab 4 SE” is especially evocative of Moab in the late 1950s, before the area had fully become an international emblem of desert recreation. The town was then strongly associated with ranching, mining, transportation, and the uranium boom that transformed much of the Colorado Plateau after World War II. Its roads and settlement features reveal a community connected to resource extraction and regional travel, yet still embedded in a vast and demanding natural setting. The surrounding country, now closely linked with Arches and Canyonlands, appears here in a transitional era, when spectacular geological scenery was increasingly recognized but before later waves of tourism and protected-land visitation reshaped the region’s identity.

For collectors, this map offers a compelling convergence of scientific precision, desert beauty, and historical timing. It presents Moab not as an abstract destination, but as a measured terrain of river corridors, mountain influence, canyon margins, and human traces. The La Sal Mountains rise as an important regional presence, contrasting alpine elevation with the arid sandstone country below, while the map’s roads and trails suggest early approaches into landscapes now celebrated for hiking, rafting, climbing, and scenic exploration. Its topographic detail rewards close study, revealing how geology governs access, settlement, and perception in southeastern Utah. Elegant in its restraint and rich in information, “Moab 4 SE” is a distinguished portrait of a landscape on the cusp of modern fame.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Moab, Utah
• Colorado River
• La Sal Mountains
• Arches National Park
• Canyonlands National Park
• Various roads, both labeled and unlabeled
• Trails and paths through natural areas
• Various landmarks marked on the map
• Geological features, including rock formations, cliffs, and valleys

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
• Historical topographical map at a scale of 1:24,000
• Dated 1959, with imprint published in 1961
• Shows Moab, Utah, and surrounding areas
• Features contour lines indicating elevation changes
• Depicts rugged southeastern Utah terrain with elevations, depressions, and distinctive geological features
• Reflects the geographical character and settlement patterns of Moab in the late 1950s
• Finely rendered topographical features demonstrate skilled cartographic representation of the natural landscape

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed 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.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every 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.

With 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 rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.