1932 Map of Las Flores

About this map

Malibu and the south-facing slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains are depicted here during the early 1930s, just as the coastal corridor was beginning to develop along the State Highway. The map illustrates a landscape of deep canyons and steep ridges, with early settlements like Malibu Beach, Las Flores, and Big Rock hugging the shoreline of Santa Monica Bay. Further inland, the terrain is dotted with early 20th-century outposts and landmarks including Stunts Ranch, Monte Nido, and Crater Camp. This 1929 survey reveals the area before the era of intensive suburban expansion, showing a network of rural roads winding through Topanga Canyon and Dark Canyon. Topographic details highlight the prominence of Saddle Peak and the complex drainage of Malibu Creek, providing a foundational look at the geography of western Los Angeles County before modern development transformed the canyons.