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1959 Map of San Rafael Mtn

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of San Rafael Mtn
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The San Rafael Mountains dominate this 1959 landscape, where the recently completed Cachuma Dam has transformed the valley into Cachuma Lake. This era marks a significant shift in the region's geography, as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's water project created a central recreational hub near Cachuma Village. The map reveals a complex network of backcountry camps such as Manzana Narrows Camp and Mission Pine Camp, alongside legacy landholdings like Rancho San Fernando Rey and San Marcos Ranch.

Industrial activity is preserved through labels for the Peacock Mine, Redrock Mine, and Bee Rock Quarry, while the southern reaches show the early infrastructure of the Los Padres National Forest. Higher elevations are marked by the Ranger Peak Lookout and the KEYT-TV Tower atop Broadcast Pk, illustrating the mountain range's role in regional communications and fire observation during the mid-twentieth century.