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1919 Map of San Simeon

Name: 1919 Topographic Map of San Simeon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1919
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1919

About this map

Hearst Ranch and the coastal village of San Simeon anchor this 1919 study of the Central California coast, where the Pacific Ocean meets the steep slopes of the Santa Lucia Range. The landscape is defined by a series of narrow canyons and arroyos, including Arroyo de la Cruz and Santa Rosa Creek, which supported early ranching and small-scale settlements. To the south, the town of Cambria serves as a hub near Leffingwell Landing.

Resource extraction was a primary driver of development in this era, as evidenced by numerous quicksilver operations scattered throughout the hills. Quicksilver miners worked sites like the Oceanic Mine and Cambria Mine, while older operations such as the Hamilton Mine and Keystone Mine were already noted as abandoned by 1919. Several rural schools, including Olmstead School and Home School, suggest the scattered nature of the local ranching families and mining communities.