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1956 Map of Pfeiffer Point

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Pfeiffer Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and the surrounding coastal reaches of the Los Padres National Forest dominate this mid-century survey of the Monterey coast. The landscape is defined by the sharp descent of the Santa Lucia Range into the Pacific Ocean, where names like Wreck Beach and Pfeiffer Rock hint at the maritime challenges of the era. The small settlement of Posts serves as a primary human landmark along the winding Coast Highway, accompanied by the Pfeiffer Sch and the Big Sur Guard Sta.

Inland, the Big Sur River cuts through the terrain near Pine Ridge, providing a corridor for early recreation at sites like Weyland Camp. The map also delineates the Sea Otter Game Refuge along the shoreline, reflecting early conservation efforts. From the steep walls of Sycamore Canyon to the jutting profile of Cooper Point, the map documents a period when this stretch of coastline was transitioning into a protected wilderness destination.