1903 Map of Mt. Pinos

About this map

Santa Barbara National Forest dominates this 1903 survey, revealing the complex drainage basins of the Cuyama River and Sespe Creek. The high-altitude landscape is punctuated by massive peaks including Mt. Pinos and Reyes Peak, where the timbered reaches of Pine Mountain meet the high valleys. Early twentieth-century industrial activity is evidenced by the Frazier Borax Mine in the northern hills, while small settlements like Pattiway and Ozena mark the limited reach of permanent habitation in this interior wilderness. Local geography is further defined by landmarks like the Pine Mtn Lodge and the geothermal interest of Wheeler Springs. The map serves as an essential record of the original boundaries of several California counties, showing the intersections of Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo as they were surveyed at the turn of the century.