1962 Map of Indian Gulch

About this map

Mining and ranching life defines this 1962 landscape in the foothills of Mariposa County, where the historic Indian Gulch settlement and the Toledo (Site) represent early California habitation patterns. The map documents a rugged terrain dominated by Quartz Mountain and Santa Cruz Mountain, with evidence of small-scale industry at the Ruth Pierce Mine and Owl Mine. Local community history is preserved through the locations of the Hornitos Sch and multiple burial grounds like Gulch Cem and Santa Cruz Cem. The hydrology of the area is well-charted, showing the path of Burns Creek and the formation of the Owens Reservoir to the south. This topographical record, produced in cooperation with the California Department of Water Resources, captures a transitional era of land management before more modern development altered the rural character of the foothills.