1958 Map of Alturas

About this map

Alturas serves as the hub of this high-desert region in the late 1950s, situated at the junction of the Pit River and major transit corridors through the Modoc National Forest. The landscape is defined by its massive volcanic and lacustrine features, from the jagged Lava Beds National Monument and Glass Mountain to the expansive waters of Goose Lake and Tule Lake. This era shows a complex water management and wildlife conservation network, evidenced by the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and Clear Lake Reservoir. Along the eastern border, the Warner Mountains rise sharply above the Surprise Valley, where isolated settlements like Cedarville and Eagleville persist. The map also traces the vital rail lines of the Southern Pacific and Great Northern, which historically linked these remote timber and ranching communities to broader markets.