1959 Map of Piedras Blancas

About this map

Point Piedras Blancas anchors this stretch of the Central Coast, where the Lighthouse and Coast Guard Res stand at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. This 1959 survey records a landscape defined by sharp elevation changes, climbing from the tide line to the summit of Pine Top Mtn. The Cabrillo Highway serves as the primary artery, threading between the shore and the interior mountains while crossing drainage systems like Arroyo de la Cruz and Arroyo del Corral. Evidence of earlier resource extraction or land management appears at Cinnabar VABM 594, while the shoreline is dotted with distinct maritime landmarks including Pt Sierra Nevada and the offshore Harlech Castle Rock. The presence of several triangulation stations and a Gaging Station indicates the ongoing hydrographic and geodetic monitoring of this coastal reach during the mid-century.