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1902 Map of San Gorgonio

Name: 1902 Topographic Map of San Gorgonio
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1906
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1906

About this map

The San Bernardino Forest Reserve dominates this high-altitude landscape at the turn of the century, revealing a wilderness in transition between mining booms and early mountain recreation. Industrial footprints are evident at the Rose Mine and Lakeview Mill, while the settlement of Doble sits near the shores of Baldwin Lake. The presence of numerous family-named outposts like Clarks Ranch, Smarts Ranch, and Skinners Camp suggests a geography of isolated homesteads and seasonal livestock camps.

To the north, the terrain drops sharply into the Mohave Desert, where life clusters around critical water sources like Old Woman Springs and Rabbit Springs. Transport across the peaks is traced by the Rathbone Tr., connecting Bear Lake to the lower valleys. This survey illustrates the era before major dams and modern resorts, capturing the original proportions of mountain lakes and the primitive road networks serving the Holcomb Valley gold districts.