1949 Map of Cape San Martin

About this map

Coastal settlements and high ridgelines define this section of the Big Sur coast as it appeared in the late 1940s. Small outposts such as Plaskett and Gorda cling to the narrow terrace between the Pacific Ocean and the steep slopes of the Santa Lucia Range. The presence of the Pacific Valley Sch suggests a established community of residents and ranchers working the land before the more intensive tourism of later decades. Much of the interior is dominated by the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation, which butts against the Los Padres National Forest. Notable landmarks along the surf include the massive Plaskett Rock and the namesake Cape San Martin, while the higher elevations reach toward Chalk Peak and San Martin Top. Steep drainage systems like Mill Creek and Willow Creek cut through the mountains, illustrating the difficult terrain that shaped early regional development.