1897 Map of Mt. Hamilton

About this map

Mt. Hamilton and its world-famous Lick Observatory dominate this late 19th-century survey of the Diablo Range. The landscape is defined by a series of parallel northwest-trending ridges including Oak Ridge, Packard Ridge, and Eylar Mountain, separated by deep canyons and high valleys. Water sources like Smith Creek and Isabel Creek carve through the terrain, supporting isolated pockets of human activity such as a Hotel and remote outposts like Mowry Camp. The transition from Alameda County into Santa Clara County is marked by significant elevation changes, ranging from Copernicus Pk. down to the broadening San Felipe Valley. This map illustrates the early scientific and ranching era of the region before modern development, capturing the specific geography of early California mountain life.