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1951 Map of Cape Mendocino

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Cape Mendocino
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

Cape Mendocino stands as the westernmost point of California, where the land drops sharply into the Pacific Ocean amid a landscape of complex ridges and coastal gulches. This survey, mapped by the Army Map Service, captures the isolated character of the Lost Coast area before extensive modern development. Small settlements like Capetown and Petrolia serve as the primary hubs for a ranching economy, evidenced by landmarks such as Bonanza Ranch and Green Pond Ranch.

The presence of an abandoned oil well near the Mattole River and an abandoned school hints at shifting populations and early industrial attempts in this remote section of Humboldt County. Maritime safety is central to the area's geography, noted by the Coast Guard Reservation and the treacherous rocks of Blunts Reef and The Great Break. The survey also marks the critical Humboldt Base Line, which serves as the foundational surveying reference for much of Northern California.