1953 Map of Lake Mathews

About this map

Lake Mathews dominates the northern landscape of this mid-century survey, serving as a critical terminal reservoir for the Colorado River Aqueduct. The surrounding hills of the El Sobrante De San Jacinto land grant reveal a history of extraction and early settlement, including the Cajalco Tin Mine and numerous Clay Pits near Arcilla. Local history is deeply rooted here, marked by the Indian Pictographs Historical Marker and the Site of the First House in Riverside County near the Temescal Valley. The terrain rises sharply toward Monument Peak and Arlington Mtn, while the southwestern corner transitions into the Cleveland Nat Forest near the resort grounds of Glen Ivy Hot Springs. This map captures a pivotal era of water infrastructure development while preserving the locations of early 19th-century cultural sites and the industrial footprint of the local mining districts.