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1903 Map of Rock Creek

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Rock Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

The San Gabriel National Forest dominates this turn-of-the-century survey, revealing a landscape where the arid expanse of the Mohave Desert meets the steep drainages of the San Gabriel Mountains. High-elevation landmarks such as Mt. Baden-Powell and Waterman Mtn define the southern interior, providing the source for numerous water systems including the West Fork San Gabriel River and Rock Creek.

Small mountain outposts and early canyon settlements like Pallett, Shoemaker, and Big Rock Villa sit at the desert's edge, while deeper in the forest, Squirrel Inn and Sycamore Flat suggest early recreational and residential footholds. The presence of Mine Gulch and the Devils Punchbowl highlights the varied geologic and economic interests of the era, from potential mineral extraction to the recognition of distinctive natural formations. This map preserves the early infrastructure of ditches and reservoirs near the desert fringe before the mid-century expansion of the Los Angeles basin.