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1897 Map of Port San Luis

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Port San Luis
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1921
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1921

About this map

Pt. San Luis and the dramatic coastal shelf of San Luis Obispo County are documented here as they appeared in the late 19th century. The land is defined by the steep Pecho Hills, where numerous drainages like Diablo Canyon and Rude Canyon carve paths toward the Pacific Ocean. This coastal segment reveals a maritime landscape punctuated by offshore hazards including Lion Rock, Pecho Rock, and Lone Black Rock, marking a stretch of shore that required constant navigation vigilance.

Industrial and navigational infrastructure of the era is evident at the southern point, where a Tunnel and L.H. (Lighthouse) are noted near Whaler Id. and San Luis Hill. The interior is dominated by named peaks such as Saddle Peak, Green Peak, and Bald Knob, while the inclusion of San Miguelito suggests the early land divisions of the region. The map captures the coastline before modern development, highlighting the natural geography of Wild Cherry Canyon and See Canyon as they meet the sea.