1942 Map of Gaviota

About this map

The Los Padres National Forest creates a dramatic backdrop for the narrow coastal shelf of Santa Barbara County in this 1942 wartime survey. The Southern Pacific railroad and the coastal highway follow a tight corridor between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean, connecting small seaside settlements like Alcatraz, Lento, and Tajiguas. The terrain is defined by numerous canyons or "cañadas" that drain the forest into the Santa Barbara Channel, including Canada del Corral and Arroyo Hondo. This edition, prepared by the War Department and the Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, captures the strategic topography of Gaviota Pass and its adjacent shore at Gaviota Beach. The map serves as a detailed record of coastal infrastructure during the early 1940s, marking specific points of interest such as the Gaviota Flagpole and the beach landings at Refugio Beach.