1953 Map of San Bernardino

About this map

The San Bernardino National Forest dominates the center of this mid-century landscape, separating the developing urban corridor from the high Mojave Desert. This 1953 perspective shows the San Bernardino Valley as a burgeoning suburban and industrial hub, with towns like San Bernardino, Redlands, and Ontario interconnected by a dense network of transit, including the Pacific Electric RR and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR. Beyond the peak of San Gorgonio Mountain, the map transitions into the arid basins of the Mojave Valley, where remote sites like Old Woman Springs and the Camp Rock Mine highlight the era's desert activity. Strategic military installations including Edwards Air Force Base and George Air Force Base anchor the northern reaches, while the southeastern corner reveals the early boundaries of Joshua Tree National Monument.