1941 Map of Swarthout

About this map

The San Andreas fault line carves a dramatic visual rift through this high mountain survey, defining the Rift Zone where the Big Pines Camp Area was established. This terrain, documented by R.W. Burchard in the mid-1930s, reveals a landscape utilized for both scientific observation and early 20th-century mountain recreation. The presence of the Smithsonian Observatory atop Table Mountain highlights the area's significance for astronomical research, while facilities like Tennis Courts and multiple campsites indicate the burgeoning development of the Angeles National Forest as a destination. The map follows the rugged crests of the San Gabriel Mountains, from the heights of Pine Mtn down into the drainages of Fish Fork and Prairie Fork. Scattered outposts like the Big Pines Guard Sta and Junior Republic Camp reflect the organized management and institutional presence in this wilderness corridor.