1980 Map of San Clemente Island

About this map

San Clemente Island stands isolated in the southern California waters of Los Angeles County, revealing a landscape heavily shaped by its mid-century role as a military installation. By the 1980s, the island's topography was defined by the Naval Ocean Systems Center Island Facility and its associated Landing Strip, underscoring its strategic importance for oceanic research and naval operations. The rugged coastline is punctuated by descriptive landmarks such as Eel Pt, Mail Pt, and Lost Pt, leading down to the broad southern curve of Pyramid Cove. Flanked by the Outer Santa Barbara Passage and the Gulf of Santa Catalina, the map illustrates a unique intersection of military infrastructure and natural coastal features, including the distinctive Balanced Rock and the terminal southern tip at Pyramid Head.