1892 Map of Alturas

About this map

Fort Bidwell and the high desert basins of Northeastern California define this 1892 reconnaissance map, which documents the remote northeast corner of the state before the turn of the century. The terrain is characterized by a series of massive alkaline basins, including the expansive Goose Lake and Upper Alkali Lake, separated by the north-south spine of the Modoc National Forest. This mapping reflects a transition from early military outposts to pioneer settlements, with Old Indian Villages noted in the high plateau near Alturas Hill. Early trade routes and wagon tracks are implied by the spacing of remote settlements like Cedarville and Eagleville along the eastern base of the Warner Mountains. The inclusion of Boyd Hot Spring and Hayden Hill highlights the region's early geothermal and mining interests, while vast grazing lands like Antelope Plains and Fairchild Meadow suggest the burgeoning livestock industry of the era.