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1954 Map of Point Bonita

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Point Bonita
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Point Bonita and its historic Lighthouse stand as the primary sentinels at the entrance to the Golden Gate in this mid-1950s survey. The landscape is heavily defined by cold-war era coastal defense, showing the expansive footprints of the Fort Cronkhite Military Reservation and Fort Barry Military Reservation guarding the Bonita Channel. Across the water, the northwestern edge of San Francisco is meticulously gridded, featuring the northern reaches of Golden Gate Park and landmarks such as the Cliff House near Point Lobos.

On the Marin County side, the transition from the steep terrain of Coyote Ridge and the Mt Tamalpais Game Refuge to the established communities of Sausalito and Marin City is evident. Civil infrastructure including the Tamalpais Valley School and the network of residential streets in the Richmond District reflect the post-war development of the Bay Area. The map also records treacherous maritime features like Potatopatch Shoal and Centissima Reef, essential for navigating the approach to Richardson Bay.