1905 Map of Santa Ynez

About this map

The San Rafael Mountains dominate this early 20th-century survey of the California back-country, illustrating a landscape defined by sharp elevation changes and seasonal drainage. Within the Cuyama Valley to the north, small outposts like Wasioja and the Caliente Ranch sit near the winding course of the Cuyama River. The map meticulously tracks the land-grant boundaries of the era, including San Marcos, Tequepis, and Lomas de la Purificacion. Cultural landmarks like the solitary Schoolhouse north of the mountains and the Painted Cave near San Marcos Pass provide specific points of reference for local historians. High meadows known as potreros, such as Montgomery Potrera and Salisbury Potrero, suggest the area's grazing history before it was largely consolidated into the Santa Barbara National Forest.