1897 Map of Cayucos

About this map

The central coast of San Luis Obispo County is defined by the steep transition from the Santa Lucia Range to the Pacific Ocean in this late nineteenth-century topographic study. The settlement of Cayucos sits near the northern shoreline, while further south, the landmark Morro Rock guards the entrance to Morro Bay. This era of the landscape is marked by large land grants including San Bernardo, San Luisito, and Cañada de los Osos y Pecho y Islay, reflecting the region's ranching heritage. Inland, the elevation rises sharply toward peaks like Hollister Peak and Valencia Peak, while numerous drainages such as Old Creek and Toro Creek carve through the coastal hills. The map provides a detailed look at the Los Osos Valley and its surrounding canyons before the significant development of the twentieth century.