1942 Map of Ano Nuevo

About this map

The California coast between San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties appears here as a landscape of coastal agriculture and rugged oceanfront during the early 1940s. Landmark points such as Pigeon Point and Franklin Point define the jagged shoreline, while Año Nuevo Island sits just offshore from the Año Nuevo Point headland. Inland, the topography transitions quickly from the sea into the complex drainage systems of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Coastal life is evidenced by the presence of Coastways Ranch and Whitehouse Camp, alongside natural features like Lake Lucerne. Deep in the canyons, the map records Notley Junction and Rancho Del Oso, connected by winding routes like Basin Road. This 1942 edition reflects a period of military concern, with topographic details compiled from aerial photography by the 91st Observation Squadron of the Army Air Corps.