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1956 Map of Point Sur

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Point Sur
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Point Sur Lighthouse Reservation dominates this mid-century stretch of the Monterey coast, marking the prominent volcanic rock that anchors the shoreline. Just inland, the landscape of El Sur is defined by the sharp rise of Sierra Hill and Mescal Ridge, where deep canyons carved by Bixby Creek and the Little Sur River meet the ocean. The coastal infrastructure of the 1950s is documented here through the presence of the Bixby Bridge and the remains of earlier industry at Bixby Landing.

Conservation efforts are evident in the designation of The California Sea Otter Game Refuge, which spans the coastal waters and intertidal zones. Social and logistical shifts in this remote area are captured by the status of the Sur School, noted here as abandoned, and the winding path of Surra Road leading into the heights of Long Ridge. Geologic hazards and navigation aids are highlighted by offshore features like Sur Breakers, Sur Rock, and Ventura Rocks.