1942 Map of San Antonio

About this map

The San Gabriel Mountains dominate the southern half of this landscape, rising sharply from the Mojave Desert floor to the high summit of Old Baldy Peak. The high-altitude community of Wrightwood is tucked into the Swarthout Valley, serving as a central hub between the steep canyons of the Los Angeles National Forest and the arid plains to the north. This era shows a transition between isolated mountain outposts and early recreation, evidenced by the Smithsonian Observatory on Blue Ridge and various mountain retreats like Snow Crest Camp.