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1898 Map of Santa Monica

Name: 1898 Topographic Map of Santa Monica
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1898
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1898

About this map

San Fernando Valley and the Santa Monica Mountains dominate this late-19th-century landscape, capturing the Los Angeles basin during a period of transition from sprawling ranchos to nascent township developments. The map illustrates the lingering presence of Spanish land grants such as Rodeo de las Aguas, La Brea, and San Vicente y Santa Monica, while modern infrastructure begins to take hold. The Southern Pacific R. R. and the Chatsworth Park Branch carve through the plains, connecting early settlements like Burbank and Santa Monica.

Individual nodes of growth are visible at Hollywood and Sherman, along with significant institutions like the National Soldiers Home. From the steep terrain of Cahuenga Peak down to the Pacific Ocean, the map traces the natural drainage of Ballona Creek and the Los Angeles River. This document records a pivotal era before the intensive urbanization of the 20th century, where agriculture and early rail lines defined the region's character.