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1969 Map of Cape Mendocino

Name: 1969 Topographic Map of Cape Mendocino
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The westernmost point of California at Cape Mendocino is meticulously detailed in this survey, showcasing the maritime hazards and coastal infrastructure of the late 1960s. The coastline is dominated by the U.S. Coast Guard Reservation and the historic Cape Mendocino Lighthouse, which guarded a treacherous stretch of the Pacific Ocean including Blunts Reef and The Great Break. Inland, the landscape rises sharply toward Cape Ridge, where small settlements and rural landmarks like Ocean House and Cape Ranch are situated along the Petrolia 8 Mi. Road.

The map reveals the drainage of coastal streams such as Singley Creek and Duff Creek, and the northern entry of the Mattole River. Coastal geography is particularly complex here, featuring numerous sea stacks and formations like Sugarloaf Island, Steamboat Rock, and Devils Gate Rock. To the north, the Bear River meets the sea, while offshore soundings hint at the submarine depths of the Mendocino Canyon.