1954 Map of Moss Landing

About this map

Monterey Canyon carves a deep submarine channel directly offshore from Moss Landing, creating a unique coastal geography where deep-water maritime access meets a complex network of coastal wetlands. This 1954 landscape is defined by the confluence of the Pajaro River, Elkhorn Slough, and the Salinas River, which together form a low-lying mosaic of salt marshes, mudflats, and sloughs. The infrastructure of the era is evident in the prominent Power Plant at the harbor mouth and the Southern Pacific tracks winding through the marshlands. Further inland, the map captures the transition to agriculture and early residential settlement near Castroville, with cultural landmarks like the Moss Landing Union School and the Castroville Moss Ldg Cem serving the local population. Large land grants, including Bolsa Nueva y Moro Cojo, still define the territorial boundaries of the Monterey County coast.