1942 Map of San Antonio

About this map

Wrightwood and the surrounding high country of the San Gabriel Mountains anchor this 1942 survey, revealing a landscape defined by the dramatic meeting of alpine peaks and the Mojave Desert. The area is bisected by the Swarthout Valley, where the Big Pines Recreation Area and the Smithsonian Observatory demonstrate the region's mid-century role as both a recreational retreat and a scientific outpost. Along the northern desert fringe, a network of family holdings like the Smith Ranch, Kunzel Ranch, and Eierman Ranch line the Lancaster Road, marking the transition from rugged mountain canyons to the arid flats near Phelan.