1943 Map of Santa Catalina West

About this map

Silver Peak rises as the central height of this western portion of Santa Catalina Island, showing a landscape defined by sharp ridges and deep coastal inlets. Mapped by the Army Corps of Engineers using 1943 photography, the map reveals the island's isolated character during the war years. Navigation and maritime safety are anchored by the Catalina Island West End Light at Lands End, while the island's interior and coastline show signs of specialized development, including the Girl Scouts Camp at Emerald Bay and a Quarry near Arrow Point. The narrow isthmus creates a distinctive double-harbor formation between Catalina Harbor and the northern coves, a geography that has historically concentrated activity in this part of the island. Landings such as Parsons Landing and Johnsons Landing suggest the importance of sea-access points in a period when the interior remained largely defined by heights like Mt Torquemada and the steep terrain surrounding Cherry Valley.