1902 Map of San Gorgonio

About this map

The Mojave Desert meets the high peaks of the San Bernardino Forest Reserve in this late nineteenth-century landscape. Sparse ranching and vital water sources like Rabbit Springs and Old Woman Springs define the arid northern flats, while the mountains to the south are dotted with early industrial outposts. Mining and timber operations are evidenced by the Rose Mine and Lakeview Mill, clustered near Baldwin Lake. Settlers and surveyors established early camps such as Doble and Greenlead Camp, navigating a complex terrain of high flats like Cactus Flat and deep gorges. The map captures the nascent recreational and agricultural footprint in the San Bernardino Mountains before the era of major reservoir construction, showing the natural extent of Bear Lake and the upper reaches of the Santa Ana River.