1959 Map of Point Arguello

About this map

The US Naval Missile Facility Point Arguello dominates the shoreline in this coastal survey, reflecting the mid-century transition toward military and aerospace operations on the California coast. Along the Southern Pacific tracks, the small stops of Arlight and Honda sit near the rugged headlands of Point Arguello and Point Pedernales. The marine landscape is marked by navigational hazards and aids, including a noted Wreck near Destroyer Rock and a Coast Guard Sta equipped with a Loran Tower and Radio Tower. Inland, the topography rises sharply toward Tranquillon Ridge and Cypress Ridge, dissected by steep drainages like Grey Canyon and Red Roof Canyon. This map captures a specific moment when traditional rail transportation and coastal maritime safety infrastructure intersected with the burgeoning Cold War missile testing facilities of the Punta de la Concepcion region.