1915 Map of Elizabeth Lake

About this map

Los Angeles Aqueduct cuts a diagonal path across the arid terrain of Antelope Valley, marking a pivotal moment in California's water history just years after its completion. This 1915 survey captures the region as it transitions from a high-desert frontier into a series of rail-dependent agricultural and transit hubs. The Southern Pacific corridor anchors the developing settlements of Lancaster and Palmdale, while the dry expanse of Rosamond Lake dominates the central basin. The map reveals a landscape defined by its vital infrastructure, from the Antelope Valley Pumping Sta to isolated rural education centers like Esperanza School and Roosevelt School. To the south, the timbered slopes of the Santa Barbara National Forest rise above the Anaverde Valley, providing a stark contrast to the open plains where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad skirts the northern foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains.