1855 Sketch of South Farallon Island
By: U.S. Coast Survey
Date: 1855 (dated) Washington, D.C.
Dimensions: 13.75 x 12.75 inches (34.9 x 32.4 cm)
This map depicts South Farallon Island, one in a group of islands in the Gulf of Farallones off the coast of San Francisco, California. The chart depicts the geographic location of the islands, providing a bird’s eye view of the island, and three views of it from a variety of vantage points.
The islands are located approximately 27 miles from the Golden Gate, and are visible on a clear day. These rocky outcroppings caused many shipwrecks during Gold Rush days, as inexperienced mariners transporting gold seekers, unaware of the true underwater scale of the outcroppings, ran aground on them or were rent asunder. In 1853, two years before this map was published, a lighthouse was built on South Farallon Island in the hope of helping vessels to avoid disaster in the area. However, ships continued to wreck in the vicinity well into the twentieth century.
Condition: This map is in B condition. Original folds visible with archival reinforcement of some folds on the verso.
Inventory #11574
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