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1955 Map of Lick Observatory

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Lick Observatory
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Lick Observatory (University of California) crowns the summit of Mt Hamilton in this detailed mid-century survey of the Diablo Range. The map illustrates the complex network of telescopes and support structures atop Copernicus Peak, including various water tanks and reservoirs essential for the remote facility's operations. The landscape drops sharply into the surrounding canyons and valleys, showing the winding ascent of Mt Hamilton Road as it snakes through Cañada de Pala and past the Smith Creek Ranger Sta.

Evidence of early rural infrastructure appears in the lower elevations, particularly near the Highland Sch (Abandoned) and along the cattle-grazing lands of Halls Valley. The map also captures the boundaries of the Pueblo Lands of San Jose and the Yerba Buena land grant, reflecting the area's transition from Spanish-era ranchos to a world-class center for astronomical research. Seasonal drainages like Aguague Arroyo and San Felipe Creek define the ridges of Mt Misery and the San Felipe Hills.