1947 Map of El Tranquillon

About this map

Tranquillon Mountain anchors this coastal section of the western Santa Ynez Mountains, where the California shoreline turns sharply at the Pacific Ocean. Just after the war, the landscape is defined by the heavy footprint of the Camp Cooke Military Reservation and the strategically placed U. S. Naval Radar Station. The rugged interior is carved by numerous canyons, including Cañada de los Sauces and Cañada de la Morida, which drain toward the rocky coast. The coastal shelf carries the vital Southern Pacific Railroad line, connecting the small rail settlements of Arguello and Sudden. This survey captures a specific moment in military and maritime history, recording hydrographic details and seabed compositions like the rocky shelf at The Espada before the region's later transition into a major spaceport facility.