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1955 Map of Big Basin

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Big Basin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Big Basin Redwoods State Park and Portola State Park dominate this mid-century survey of the Santa Cruz Mountains, revealing a landscape defined by preservation and mountain recreation. The area around Park Headquarters (Big Basin PO) serves as a hub for numerous creeks and canyons, including Opal Creek and Waddell Creek. Residential and social pockets like Riverside Grove, Wildwood, and the Boulder Creek Golf and Country Club cluster along the San Lorenzo River, while the high ridges are marked by old thoroughfares like China Grade and the Empire Grade.

A notable institutional presence is found at Camp Ben Lomond (California Youth Authority) on the slopes of Ben Lomond Mtn. The map also captures remnants of local industry with a Sawmill and Quarry near Forest Park, alongside family-named landmarks like the Locatelli Ranch and Blooms. These details illustrate the transition from early timber extraction to a landscape primarily dedicated to public conservation and residential mountain communities.