1892 Map of Alturas

About this map

The high desert and mountainous terrain of northeastern California are documented here during a period of frontier settlement. The Warner Mountains divide the landscape, separating the massive Goose Lake from the series of alkali basins to the east, including Middle Alkali Lake and Lower Lake. Early outposts like Fort Bidwell and Cedarville are established along these valley floors, while the presence of Old Indian Villages near the Pit River suggests the long-standing indigenous occupation of the area. The map reveals a land defined by its water sources, from the thermal Boyd Hot Spring to the seasonal expanses of the Antelope Plains. Geographer Henry Gannett directed this reconnaissance, which details the complex drainage patterns of the South Fork Pit River and the numerous meadows like Boles Meadow that supported early ranching and livestock.