1903 Map of San Antonio

About this map

San Antonio Peak and the high ridges of the San Gabriel Mountains dominate this early 20th-century survey, illustrating the complex drainage systems that define the Southern California interior. The map documents the transition from the steep alpine terrain of the San Bernardino National Forest down into the northern expanse of the Mohave Desert. Deep river systems like the San Gabriel River and its various tributaries, including Iron Fork and Fish Fork, have carved narrow passages such as The Narrows. Along the high ridges, landmarks like the Devils Backbone and Telegraph Peak provide a glimpse into the verticality of the landscape before modern infrastructure reached these summits. To the east, the long, straight alignment of Lone Pine Canyon and Swarthout Valley follows the structural lines of the region's geography, connecting the high peaks to the lower alluvial fans and the widening Cajon Canyon.