and Harlan. Without a road, these families had to depend upon upon depend to had families these road, a Without Harlan. and ambiance of solitude and timeless beauty. timeless and solitude of ambiance painter Ephraim Doner. Ephraim painter and inspiration in Big Sur’s unique and idyllic setting. setting. idyllic and unique Sur’s Big in inspiration and
including Pfeiffer, Bixby, Post, Trotter, Dani, Notley, Partington Partington Notley, Dani, Trotter, Post, Bixby, Pfeiffer, including and artisans who have sought inspiration in the area’s unique unique area’s the in inspiration sought have who artisans and lived at Big Sur, as did the English nature poet, Eric Barker and and Barker Eric poet, nature English the did as Sur, Big at lived who preceded them, these modern artists have also sought solitude solitude sought also have artists modern these them, preceded who
have been preserved in the area’s parks and geographical features, features, geographical and parks area’s the in preserved been have remoteness has made it a cultural draw for artists, writers writers artists, for draw cultural a it made has remoteness Jaime de Angulo, a physician, linguist and anthropologist, anthropologist, and linguist physician, a Angulo, de Jaime music and television. Like the generations of eclectic individuals individuals eclectic of generations the Like television. and music
after California became a state. Many of the early settlers’ names names settlers’ early the of Many state. a became California after Still largely rural in character, Big Sur’s aura of beauty and and beauty of aura Sur’s Big character, in rural largely Still as his inspiration for the setting of “The Roan Stallion.” Stallion.” Roan “The of setting the for inspiration his as wave of Big Sur artists: the rich and famous from the world of film, film, of world the from famous and rich the artists: Sur Big of wave
early 1860s, after the passage of the Homestead Act, a decade decade a Act, Homestead the of passage the after 1860s, early Jeffers would later use a deserted farm house at San Jose Creek Creek Jose San at house farm deserted a use later would Jeffers Escalating property values in recent decades have brought another another brought have decades recent in values property Escalating
The earliest permanent homesteaders in Big Sur arrived in the the in arrived Sur Big in homesteaders permanent earliest The them: gasoline stations, resorts, cafes, shops and galleries. galleries. and shops cafes, resorts, stations, gasoline them: to the Big Sur coast during the early part of the 20th Century; Century; 20th the of part early the during coast Sur Big the to
not only tourists but the industries which serve serve which industries the but tourists only not Robinson Jeffers, and writer George Sterling, had been drawn drawn been had Sterling, George writer and Jeffers, Robinson winning scientist, Linus Pauling. Pauling. Linus scientist, winning
Palo Colorado Canyon. Canyon. Colorado Palo short order, the new coast road brought brought road coast new the order, short other Big Sur writer’s and artists’ works. Both Carmel poet poet Carmel Both works. artists’ and writer’s Sur Big other his wife, environmentalist Margaret Owings, and Nobel Prize Prize Nobel and Owings, Margaret environmentalist wife, his
Sur Chiquito (1835), which led south from the Carmel River to to River Carmel the from south led which (1835), Chiquito Sur 1937, with the opening of Highway 1. In In 1. Highway of opening the with 1937, inaugurated the Henry Miller Library, to house Miller’s, and and Miller’s, house to Library, Miller Henry the inaugurated photographer Ansel Adams, architect Nathaniel Owings and and Owings Nathaniel architect Adams, Ansel photographer
grant, under a variety of owners, was the 8,876-acre San Jose y y Jose San 8,876-acre the was owners, of variety a under grant, Big Sur’s pioneer era came to a close in in close a to came era pioneer Sur’s Big White, who became Miller’s secretary and companion, later later companion, and secretary Miller’s became who White, individuals have called the Big Sur coast home, including including home, coast Sur Big the called have individuals
the land passed to Captain John Rogers Cooper. Another Mexican Mexican Another Cooper. Rogers John Captain to passed land the introduced to the area by collage artist Jean Varda. Painter Emil Emil Painter Varda. Jean artist collage by area the to introduced Over the years since the building of Highway 1, other notable notable other 1, Highway of building the since years the Over
Point. First acquired by Juan Bautista Alvarado in 1834, in 1840 1840 in 1834, in Alvarado Bautista Juan by acquired First Point. itinerary. itinerary. and the once-banned “The Tropic of Cancer.” Miller had been been had Miller Cancer.” of Tropic “The once-banned the and
which stretched from the mouth of the Little Sur River to Cooper Cooper to River Sur Little the of mouth the from stretched which Old Coast Road, a sidetrip on this map map this on sidetrip a Road, Coast Old author of “Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch,” Bosch,” Hieronymus of Oranges the and Sur “Big of author under the redwoods and in isolated cabins. cabins. isolated in and redwoods the under
(1821-1846) with the granting of the 8,949-acre Rancho El Sur, Sur, El Rancho 8,949-acre the of granting the with (1821-1846) this original route is still covered by the the by covered still is route original this their next-door neighbor, novelist and artist, Henry Miller, Miller, Henry artist, and novelist neighbor, next-door their hippies who sought alternative lifestyles, living living lifestyles, alternative sought who hippies
Big Sur’s pioneer era began during California’s Mexican Period Period Mexican California’s during began era pioneer Sur’s Big Valley as far as the Post Ranch. A portion of of portion A Ranch. Post the as far as Valley hand-hewn house in the 1940s. They became good friends with with friends good became They 1940s. the in house hand-hewn Big Sur experienced an influx of youthful youthful of influx an experienced Sur Big
extended from Bixby Canyon into the Big Sur Sur Big the into Canyon Bixby from extended Big Sur from San Simeon in 1924 before returning to build a a build to returning before 1924 in Simeon San from Sur Big for six weeks.” In the 1960s and 1970s, 1970s, and 1960s the In weeks.” six for
from the scene. scene. the from to Rancho El Sur. It was another 31 years before the route was was route the before years 31 another was It Sur. El Rancho to Ross, lived at Partington Ridge. The pair had first walked to to walked first had pair The Ridge. Partington at lived Ross, “write and be alone and undisturbed undisturbed and alone be and “write
began arriving in Big Sur, the native population had vanished vanished had population native the Sur, Big in arriving began remote Big Sur coast. By 1855 a wagon trail connected Monterey Monterey connected trail wagon a 1855 By coast. Sur Big remote Ross, who along with his first wife, poet-writer Lillian Bos Bos Lillian poet-writer wife, first his with along who Ross, in the Big Sur woods where he could could he where woods Sur Big the in
by the newcomers. By the late 1850s, when the first white settlers settlers white first the when 1850s, late the By newcomers. the by During those earliest years, only a horse trail led down to the the to down led trail horse a only years, earliest those During still-isolated land. Among them was wood sculptor, Harry Dick Dick Harry sculptor, wood was them Among land. still-isolated Jack Kerouac, who lived in a cabin cabin a in lived who Kerouac, Jack
were either assimilated, or they succumbed to diseases introduced introduced diseases to succumbed they or assimilated, either were surroundings drew artists and writers to settle in the wild, wild, the in settle to writers and artists drew surroundings exemplified by “On the Road” author author Road” the “On by exemplified
under the control of the mission system. From that time, they they time, that From system. mission the of control the under their “extras.” “extras.” their values also depreciated. The area’s modest rents and quiet quiet and rents modest area’s The depreciated. also values themselves Beatniks. Their lifestyle was was lifestyle Their Beatniks. themselves
in the Monterey and Carmel areas in 1770-71, the natives came came natives the 1770-71, in areas Carmel and Monterey the in to the twice-yearly supply runs brought in by coast steamers for for steamers coast by in brought runs supply twice-yearly the to highway traffic and tourism to a trickle in Big Sur, land land Sur, Big in trickle a to tourism and traffic highway artists and writers arrived, calling calling arrived, writers and artists
and acorns. After Spanish soldiers, clerics and civilians arrived arrived civilians and clerics soldiers, Spanish After acorns. and their own crops and livestock for subsistence, and looked forward forward looked and subsistence, for livestock and crops own their During the World War II era, when gasoline rationing slowed slowed rationing gasoline when era, II War World the During By the 1950s a younger group of Bohemian Bohemian of group younger a 1950s the By
huts made from tule and subsisted on a diet of wild animals, fish, fish, animals, wild of diet a on subsisted and tule from made huts
toward Lucia. The semi-nomadic natives lived in in lived natives semi-nomadic The Lucia. toward
the Esselen occupied the region heading south south heading region the occupied Esselen the J. Smeaton Chase, “California Coast Trails,” 1913 Trails,” Coast “California Chase, Smeaton J.
Palo Colorado and into the Little Sur; from there, there, from Sur; Little the into and Colorado Palo
human voice was still a rarity to the ear.” the to rarity a still was voice human
Rumsen occupied the area from Carmel through through Carmel from area the occupied Rumsen small camps into the Santa Lucia mountains. The The mountains. Lucia Santa the into camps small
appeared, but there was little travel on the road, and the the and road, the on travel little was there but appeared,
down the coast from Carmel to Lucia, and in in and Lucia, to Carmel from coast the down
tribes. Groups lived in small settlements stretching stretching settlements small in lived Groups tribes.
bright sea...at long intervals, stark-looking ranch houses houses ranch stark-looking intervals, long sea...at bright
Lyon Phelps, in “Recipes for Living in Big Sur” Big in Living for “Recipes in Phelps, Lyon
Big Sur coastal area was inhabited by native Indian Indian native by inhabited was area coastal Sur Big
discovered this pristine region, a portion of the the of portion a region, pristine this discovered
“All day the road wound along a rocky shore, beside a a beside shore, rocky a along wound road the day “All
before the road came through and here he is.” he here and through came road the before About 3,000 years before the first outside settlers settlers outside first the before years 3,000 About
generation...He tramped the hills to our coast coast our to hills the tramped generation...He
inheritor of Jack London’s original first first original London’s Jack of inheritor
Sur’s original and first great Bohemian, Bohemian, great first and original Sur’s
“Harry Dick Ross, what can one say of Big Big of say one can what Ross, Dick “Harry
Sur G Bi
Big Sur: The Big Country To The South The To Country Big The Sur: Big bohemian “El País Grande del Sur” del Grande País “El
Considered one of the Big Sur The world ’s great scenic drives, THE BIG SUR COAST • BY ELIZABETH BARRATT Highway 1 traces a narrow, cliff-hugging route along the edge of Big Sur’s rugged coast. On this trip, each curve in the road reveals magnificent natural expanses where, in places, mountains seem to plunge from 3,300 feet heights to disappear into the brooding sea. The region’s ethereal climate A causes majestic landscapes to appear and vanish in a teasing sea Historic fog which invites and excludes at whim. Big Drive This 37-mile drive covers the north Along Highway and central portions of the Big One Sur Coast, following Highway 1 from the Carmel River south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Along with oceanscapes and mountain vistas, the visitor Sur will see historic sites and take a detour on the area’s earliest route, coast Old Coast Road.
Today’s Riviera-like drive along Highway 1 began with an A Historic Drive idea formulated in the 1890s by Dr. John D. Roberts, a Monterey physician. Seventeen years in building, Along Highway One Highway 1 opened in 1937 and was designated a by Elizabeth Barratt scenic highway in 1966.
© 2007 by The Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission
This brochure was prepared by the “All the coast passed this day is Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission Photos and postcards courtesy of Pat Hathaway, the very bold...there are mountains California Views Collection, Monterey County Library and Monterey Public Library’s California History Room. DETAILED which seem to reach the heavens, MAP For more information call the Monterey County INSIDE! and the sea beats on them.” Historical Advisory Commission (831) 755-4913
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Ship’s Log, November 13, 1542 Also : Bohemian Big Sur • El Pas Grande Del Sur
and Harlan. Without a road, these families had to depend upon upon depend to had families these road, a Without Harlan. and ambiance of solitude and timeless beauty. timeless and solitude of ambiance painter Ephraim Doner. Ephraim painter and inspiration in Big Sur’s unique and idyllic setting. setting. idyllic and unique Sur’s Big in inspiration and
including Pfeiffer, Bixby, Post, Trotter, Dani, Notley, Partington Partington Notley, Dani, Trotter, Post, Bixby, Pfeiffer, including and artisans who have sought inspiration in the area’s unique unique area’s the in inspiration sought have who artisans and lived at Big Sur, as did the English nature poet, Eric Barker and and Barker Eric poet, nature English the did as Sur, Big at lived who preceded them, these modern artists have also sought solitude solitude sought also have artists modern these them, preceded who
have been preserved in the area’s parks and geographical features, features, geographical and parks area’s the in preserved been have remoteness has made it a cultural draw for artists, writers writers artists, for draw cultural a it made has remoteness Jaime de Angulo, a physician, linguist and anthropologist, anthropologist, and linguist physician, a Angulo, de Jaime music and television. Like the generations of eclectic individuals individuals eclectic of generations the Like television. and music
after California became a state. Many of the early settlers’ names names settlers’ early the of Many state. a became California after Still largely rural in character, Big Sur’s aura of beauty and and beauty of aura Sur’s Big character, in rural largely Still as his inspiration for the setting of “The Roan Stallion.” Stallion.” Roan “The of setting the for inspiration his as wave of Big Sur artists: the rich and famous from the world of film, film, of world the from famous and rich the artists: Sur Big of wave
early 1860s, after the passage of the Homestead Act, a decade decade a Act, Homestead the of passage the after 1860s, early Jeffers would later use a deserted farm house at San Jose Creek Creek Jose San at house farm deserted a use later would Jeffers Escalating property values in recent decades have brought another another brought have decades recent in values property Escalating
The earliest permanent homesteaders in Big Sur arrived in the the in arrived Sur Big in homesteaders permanent earliest The them: gasoline stations, resorts, cafes, shops and galleries. galleries. and shops cafes, resorts, stations, gasoline them: to the Big Sur coast during the early part of the 20th Century; Century; 20th the of part early the during coast Sur Big the to
not only tourists but the industries which serve serve which industries the but tourists only not Robinson Jeffers, and writer George Sterling, had been drawn drawn been had Sterling, George writer and Jeffers, Robinson winning scientist, Linus Pauling. Pauling. Linus scientist, winning
Palo Colorado Canyon. Canyon. Colorado Palo short order, the new coast road brought brought road coast new the order, short other Big Sur writer’s and artists’ works. Both Carmel poet poet Carmel Both works. artists’ and writer’s Sur Big other his wife, environmentalist Margaret Owings, and Nobel Prize Prize Nobel and Owings, Margaret environmentalist wife, his
Sur Chiquito (1835), which led south from the Carmel River to to River Carmel the from south led which (1835), Chiquito Sur 1937, with the opening of Highway 1. In In 1. Highway of opening the with 1937, inaugurated the Henry Miller Library, to house Miller’s, and and Miller’s, house to Library, Miller Henry the inaugurated photographer Ansel Adams, architect Nathaniel Owings and and Owings Nathaniel architect Adams, Ansel photographer
grant, under a variety of owners, was the 8,876-acre San Jose y y Jose San 8,876-acre the was owners, of variety a under grant, Big Sur’s pioneer era came to a close in in close a to came era pioneer Sur’s Big White, who became Miller’s secretary and companion, later later companion, and secretary Miller’s became who White, individuals have called the Big Sur coast home, including including home, coast Sur Big the called have individuals
the land passed to Captain John Rogers Cooper. Another Mexican Mexican Another Cooper. Rogers John Captain to passed land the introduced to the area by collage artist Jean Varda. Painter Emil Emil Painter Varda. Jean artist collage by area the to introduced Over the years since the building of Highway 1, other notable notable other 1, Highway of building the since years the Over
Point. First acquired by Juan Bautista Alvarado in 1834, in 1840 1840 in 1834, in Alvarado Bautista Juan by acquired First Point. itinerary. itinerary. and the once-banned “The Tropic of Cancer.” Miller had been been had Miller Cancer.” of Tropic “The once-banned the and
which stretched from the mouth of the Little Sur River to Cooper Cooper to River Sur Little the of mouth the from stretched which Old Coast Road, a sidetrip on this map map this on sidetrip a Road, Coast Old author of “Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch,” Bosch,” Hieronymus of Oranges the and Sur “Big of author under the redwoods and in isolated cabins. cabins. isolated in and redwoods the under
(1821-1846) with the granting of the 8,949-acre Rancho El Sur, Sur, El Rancho 8,949-acre the of granting the with (1821-1846) this original route is still covered by the the by covered still is route original this their next-door neighbor, novelist and artist, Henry Miller, Miller, Henry artist, and novelist neighbor, next-door their hippies who sought alternative lifestyles, living living lifestyles, alternative sought who hippies
Big Sur’s pioneer era began during California’s Mexican Period Period Mexican California’s during began era pioneer Sur’s Big Valley as far as the Post Ranch. A portion of of portion A Ranch. Post the as far as Valley hand-hewn house in the 1940s. They became good friends with with friends good became They 1940s. the in house hand-hewn Big Sur experienced an influx of youthful youthful of influx an experienced Sur Big
extended from Bixby Canyon into the Big Sur Sur Big the into Canyon Bixby from extended Big Sur from San Simeon in 1924 before returning to build a a build to returning before 1924 in Simeon San from Sur Big for six weeks.” In the 1960s and 1970s, 1970s, and 1960s the In weeks.” six for
from the scene. scene. the from to Rancho El Sur. It was another 31 years before the route was was route the before years 31 another was It Sur. El Rancho to Ross, lived at Partington Ridge. The pair had first walked to to walked first had pair The Ridge. Partington at lived Ross, “write and be alone and undisturbed undisturbed and alone be and “write
began arriving in Big Sur, the native population had vanished vanished had population native the Sur, Big in arriving began remote Big Sur coast. By 1855 a wagon trail connected Monterey Monterey connected trail wagon a 1855 By coast. Sur Big remote Ross, who along with his first wife, poet-writer Lillian Bos Bos Lillian poet-writer wife, first his with along who Ross, in the Big Sur woods where he could could he where woods Sur Big the in
by the newcomers. By the late 1850s, when the first white settlers settlers white first the when 1850s, late the By newcomers. the by During those earliest years, only a horse trail led down to the the to down led trail horse a only years, earliest those During still-isolated land. Among them was wood sculptor, Harry Dick Dick Harry sculptor, wood was them Among land. still-isolated Jack Kerouac, who lived in a cabin cabin a in lived who Kerouac, Jack
were either assimilated, or they succumbed to diseases introduced introduced diseases to succumbed they or assimilated, either were surroundings drew artists and writers to settle in the wild, wild, the in settle to writers and artists drew surroundings exemplified by “On the Road” author author Road” the “On by exemplified
under the control of the mission system. From that time, they they time, that From system. mission the of control the under their “extras.” “extras.” their values also depreciated. The area’s modest rents and quiet quiet and rents modest area’s The depreciated. also values themselves Beatniks. Their lifestyle was was lifestyle Their Beatniks. themselves
in the Monterey and Carmel areas in 1770-71, the natives came came natives the 1770-71, in areas Carmel and Monterey the in to the twice-yearly supply runs brought in by coast steamers for for steamers coast by in brought runs supply twice-yearly the to highway traffic and tourism to a trickle in Big Sur, land land Sur, Big in trickle a to tourism and traffic highway artists and writers arrived, calling calling arrived, writers and artists
and acorns. After Spanish soldiers, clerics and civilians arrived arrived civilians and clerics soldiers, Spanish After acorns. and their own crops and livestock for subsistence, and looked forward forward looked and subsistence, for livestock and crops own their During the World War II era, when gasoline rationing slowed slowed rationing gasoline when era, II War World the During By the 1950s a younger group of Bohemian Bohemian of group younger a 1950s the By
huts made from tule and subsisted on a diet of wild animals, fish, fish, animals, wild of diet a on subsisted and tule from made huts
toward Lucia. The semi-nomadic natives lived in in lived natives semi-nomadic The Lucia. toward
the Esselen occupied the region heading south south heading region the occupied Esselen the J. Smeaton Chase, “California Coast Trails,” 1913 Trails,” Coast “California Chase, Smeaton J.
Palo Colorado and into the Little Sur; from there, there, from Sur; Little the into and Colorado Palo
human voice was still a rarity to the ear.” the to rarity a still was voice human
Rumsen occupied the area from Carmel through through Carmel from area the occupied Rumsen small camps into the Santa Lucia mountains. The The mountains. Lucia Santa the into camps small
appeared, but there was little travel on the road, and the the and road, the on travel little was there but appeared,
down the coast from Carmel to Lucia, and in in and Lucia, to Carmel from coast the down
tribes. Groups lived in small settlements stretching stretching settlements small in lived Groups tribes.
bright sea...at long intervals, stark-looking ranch houses houses ranch stark-looking intervals, long sea...at bright
Lyon Phelps, in “Recipes for Living in Big Sur” Big in Living for “Recipes in Phelps, Lyon
Big Sur coastal area was inhabited by native Indian Indian native by inhabited was area coastal Sur Big
discovered this pristine region, a portion of the the of portion a region, pristine this discovered
“All day the road wound along a rocky shore, beside a a beside shore, rocky a along wound road the day “All
before the road came through and here he is.” he here and through came road the before About 3,000 years before the first outside settlers settlers outside first the before years 3,000 About
generation...He tramped the hills to our coast coast our to hills the tramped generation...He
inheritor of Jack London’s original first first original London’s Jack of inheritor
Sur’s original and first great Bohemian, Bohemian, great first and original Sur’s
“Harry Dick Ross, what can one say of Big Big of say one can what Ross, Dick “Harry
Sur G Bi
Big Sur: The Big Country To The South The To Country Big The Sur: Big bohemian “El País Grande del Sur” del Grande País “El
Considered one of the Big Sur The world ’s great scenic drives, THE BIG SUR COAST • BY ELIZABETH BARRATT Highway 1 traces a narrow, cliff-hugging route along the edge of Big Sur’s rugged coast. On this trip, each curve in the road reveals magnificent natural expanses where, in places, mountains seem to plunge from 3,300 feet heights to disappear into the brooding sea. The region’s ethereal climate A causes majestic landscapes to appear and vanish in a teasing sea Historic fog which invites and excludes at whim. Big Drive This 37-mile drive covers the north Along Highway and central portions of the Big One Sur Coast, following Highway 1 from the Carmel River south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Along with oceanscapes and mountain vistas, the visitor Sur will see historic sites and take a detour on the area’s earliest route, coast Old Coast Road.
Today’s Riviera-like drive along Highway 1 began with an A Historic Drive idea formulated in the 1890s by Dr. John D. Roberts, a Monterey physician. Seventeen years in building, Along Highway One Highway 1 opened in 1937 and was designated a by Elizabeth Barratt scenic highway in 1966.
© 2007 by The Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission
This brochure was prepared by the “All the coast passed this day is Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission Photos and postcards courtesy of Pat Hathaway, the very bold...there are mountains California Views Collection, Monterey County Library and Monterey Public Library’s California History Room. DETAILED which seem to reach the heavens, MAP For more information call the Monterey County INSIDE! and the sea beats on them.” Historical Advisory Commission (831) 755-4913
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Ship’s Log, November 13, 1542 Also : Bohemian Big Sur • El Pas Grande Del Sur
and Harlan. Without a road, these families had to depend upon upon depend to had families these road, a Without Harlan. and ambiance of solitude and timeless beauty. timeless and solitude of ambiance painter Ephraim Doner. Ephraim painter and inspiration in Big Sur’s unique and idyllic setting. setting. idyllic and unique Sur’s Big in inspiration and
including Pfeiffer, Bixby, Post, Trotter, Dani, Notley, Partington Partington Notley, Dani, Trotter, Post, Bixby, Pfeiffer, including and artisans who have sought inspiration in the area’s unique unique area’s the in inspiration sought have who artisans and lived at Big Sur, as did the English nature poet, Eric Barker and and Barker Eric poet, nature English the did as Sur, Big at lived who preceded them, these modern artists have also sought solitude solitude sought also have artists modern these them, preceded who
have been preserved in the area’s parks and geographical features, features, geographical and parks area’s the in preserved been have remoteness has made it a cultural draw for artists, writers writers artists, for draw cultural a it made has remoteness Jaime de Angulo, a physician, linguist and anthropologist, anthropologist, and linguist physician, a Angulo, de Jaime music and television. Like the generations of eclectic individuals individuals eclectic of generations the Like television. and music
after California became a state. Many of the early settlers’ names names settlers’ early the of Many state. a became California after Still largely rural in character, Big Sur’s aura of beauty and and beauty of aura Sur’s Big character, in rural largely Still as his inspiration for the setting of “The Roan Stallion.” Stallion.” Roan “The of setting the for inspiration his as wave of Big Sur artists: the rich and famous from the world of film, film, of world the from famous and rich the artists: Sur Big of wave
early 1860s, after the passage of the Homestead Act, a decade decade a Act, Homestead the of passage the after 1860s, early Jeffers would later use a deserted farm house at San Jose Creek Creek Jose San at house farm deserted a use later would Jeffers Escalating property values in recent decades have brought another another brought have decades recent in values property Escalating
The earliest permanent homesteaders in Big Sur arrived in the the in arrived Sur Big in homesteaders permanent earliest The them: gasoline stations, resorts, cafes, shops and galleries. galleries. and shops cafes, resorts, stations, gasoline them: to the Big Sur coast during the early part of the 20th Century; Century; 20th the of part early the during coast Sur Big the to
not only tourists but the industries which serve serve which industries the but tourists only not Robinson Jeffers, and writer George Sterling, had been drawn drawn been had Sterling, George writer and Jeffers, Robinson winning scientist, Linus Pauling. Pauling. Linus scientist, winning
Palo Colorado Canyon. Canyon. Colorado Palo short order, the new coast road brought brought road coast new the order, short other Big Sur writer’s and artists’ works. Both Carmel poet poet Carmel Both works. artists’ and writer’s Sur Big other his wife, environmentalist Margaret Owings, and Nobel Prize Prize Nobel and Owings, Margaret environmentalist wife, his
Sur Chiquito (1835), which led south from the Carmel River to to River Carmel the from south led which (1835), Chiquito Sur 1937, with the opening of Highway 1. In In 1. Highway of opening the with 1937, inaugurated the Henry Miller Library, to house Miller’s, and and Miller’s, house to Library, Miller Henry the inaugurated photographer Ansel Adams, architect Nathaniel Owings and and Owings Nathaniel architect Adams, Ansel photographer
grant, under a variety of owners, was the 8,876-acre San Jose y y Jose San 8,876-acre the was owners, of variety a under grant, Big Sur’s pioneer era came to a close in in close a to came era pioneer Sur’s Big White, who became Miller’s secretary and companion, later later companion, and secretary Miller’s became who White, individuals have called the Big Sur coast home, including including home, coast Sur Big the called have individuals
the land passed to Captain John Rogers Cooper. Another Mexican Mexican Another Cooper. Rogers John Captain to passed land the introduced to the area by collage artist Jean Varda. Painter Emil Emil Painter Varda. Jean artist collage by area the to introduced Over the years since the building of Highway 1, other notable notable other 1, Highway of building the since years the Over
Point. First acquired by Juan Bautista Alvarado in 1834, in 1840 1840 in 1834, in Alvarado Bautista Juan by acquired First Point. itinerary. itinerary. and the once-banned “The Tropic of Cancer.” Miller had been been had Miller Cancer.” of Tropic “The once-banned the and
which stretched from the mouth of the Little Sur River to Cooper Cooper to River Sur Little the of mouth the from stretched which Old Coast Road, a sidetrip on this map map this on sidetrip a Road, Coast Old author of “Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch,” Bosch,” Hieronymus of Oranges the and Sur “Big of author under the redwoods and in isolated cabins. cabins. isolated in and redwoods the under
(1821-1846) with the granting of the 8,949-acre Rancho El Sur, Sur, El Rancho 8,949-acre the of granting the with (1821-1846) this original route is still covered by the the by covered still is route original this their next-door neighbor, novelist and artist, Henry Miller, Miller, Henry artist, and novelist neighbor, next-door their hippies who sought alternative lifestyles, living living lifestyles, alternative sought who hippies
Big Sur’s pioneer era began during California’s Mexican Period Period Mexican California’s during began era pioneer Sur’s Big Valley as far as the Post Ranch. A portion of of portion A Ranch. Post the as far as Valley hand-hewn house in the 1940s. They became good friends with with friends good became They 1940s. the in house hand-hewn Big Sur experienced an influx of youthful youthful of influx an experienced Sur Big
extended from Bixby Canyon into the Big Sur Sur Big the into Canyon Bixby from extended Big Sur from San Simeon in 1924 before returning to build a a build to returning before 1924 in Simeon San from Sur Big for six weeks.” In the 1960s and 1970s, 1970s, and 1960s the In weeks.” six for
from the scene. scene. the from to Rancho El Sur. It was another 31 years before the route was was route the before years 31 another was It Sur. El Rancho to Ross, lived at Partington Ridge. The pair had first walked to to walked first had pair The Ridge. Partington at lived Ross, “write and be alone and undisturbed undisturbed and alone be and “write
began arriving in Big Sur, the native population had vanished vanished had population native the Sur, Big in arriving began remote Big Sur coast. By 1855 a wagon trail connected Monterey Monterey connected trail wagon a 1855 By coast. Sur Big remote Ross, who along with his first wife, poet-writer Lillian Bos Bos Lillian poet-writer wife, first his with along who Ross, in the Big Sur woods where he could could he where woods Sur Big the in
by the newcomers. By the late 1850s, when the first white settlers settlers white first the when 1850s, late the By newcomers. the by During those earliest years, only a horse trail led down to the the to down led trail horse a only years, earliest those During still-isolated land. Among them was wood sculptor, Harry Dick Dick Harry sculptor, wood was them Among land. still-isolated Jack Kerouac, who lived in a cabin cabin a in lived who Kerouac, Jack
were either assimilated, or they succumbed to diseases introduced introduced diseases to succumbed they or assimilated, either were surroundings drew artists and writers to settle in the wild, wild, the in settle to writers and artists drew surroundings exemplified by “On the Road” author author Road” the “On by exemplified
under the control of the mission system. From that time, they they time, that From system. mission the of control the under their “extras.” “extras.” their values also depreciated. The area’s modest rents and quiet quiet and rents modest area’s The depreciated. also values themselves Beatniks. Their lifestyle was was lifestyle Their Beatniks. themselves
in the Monterey and Carmel areas in 1770-71, the natives came came natives the 1770-71, in areas Carmel and Monterey the in to the twice-yearly supply runs brought in by coast steamers for for steamers coast by in brought runs supply twice-yearly the to highway traffic and tourism to a trickle in Big Sur, land land Sur, Big in trickle a to tourism and traffic highway artists and writers arrived, calling calling arrived, writers and artists
and acorns. After Spanish soldiers, clerics and civilians arrived arrived civilians and clerics soldiers, Spanish After acorns. and their own crops and livestock for subsistence, and looked forward forward looked and subsistence, for livestock and crops own their During the World War II era, when gasoline rationing slowed slowed rationing gasoline when era, II War World the During By the 1950s a younger group of Bohemian Bohemian of group younger a 1950s the By
huts made from tule and subsisted on a diet of wild animals, fish, fish, animals, wild of diet a on subsisted and tule from made huts
toward Lucia. The semi-nomadic natives lived in in lived natives semi-nomadic The Lucia. toward
the Esselen occupied the region heading south south heading region the occupied Esselen the J. Smeaton Chase, “California Coast Trails,” 1913 Trails,” Coast “California Chase, Smeaton J.
Palo Colorado and into the Little Sur; from there, there, from Sur; Little the into and Colorado Palo
human voice was still a rarity to the ear.” the to rarity a still was voice human
Rumsen occupied the area from Carmel through through Carmel from area the occupied Rumsen
small camps into the Santa Lucia mountains. The The mountains. Lucia Santa the into camps small
appeared, but there was little travel on the road, and the the and road, the on travel little was there but appeared,
down the coast from Carmel to Lucia, and in in and Lucia, to Carmel from coast the down
tribes. Groups lived in small settlements stretching stretching settlements small in lived Groups tribes.
bright sea...at long intervals, stark-looking ranch houses houses ranch stark-looking intervals, long sea...at bright
Lyon Phelps, in “Recipes for Living in Big Sur” Big in Living for “Recipes in Phelps, Lyon
Big Sur coastal area was inhabited by native Indian Indian native by inhabited was area coastal Sur Big
discovered this pristine region, a portion of the the of portion a region, pristine this discovered
“All day the road wound along a rocky shore, beside a a beside shore, rocky a along wound road the day “All
before the road came through and here he is.” he here and through came road the before About 3,000 years before the first outside settlers settlers outside first the before years 3,000 About
generation...He tramped the hills to our coast coast our to hills the tramped generation...He
inheritor of Jack London’s original first first original London’s Jack of inheritor
Sur’s original and first great Bohemian, Bohemian, great first and original Sur’s
“Harry Dick Ross, what can one say of Big Big of say one can what Ross, Dick “Harry
Sur G Bi
Big Sur: The Big Country To The South The To Country Big The Sur: Big bohemian “El País Grande del Sur” del Grande País “El
Considered one of the Big Sur The world ’s great scenic drives, THE BIG SUR COAST • BY ELIZABETH BARRATT Highway 1 traces a narrow, cliff-hugging route along the edge of Big Sur’s rugged coast. On this trip, each curve in the road reveals magnificent natural expanses where, in places, mountains seem to plunge from 3,300 feet heights to disappear into the brooding sea. The region’s ethereal climate A causes majestic landscapes to appear and vanish in a teasing sea Historic fog which invites and excludes at whim. Big Drive This 37-mile drive covers the north Along Highway and central portions of the Big One Sur Coast, following Highway 1 from the Carmel River south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Along with oceanscapes and mountain vistas, the visitor Sur will see historic sites and take a detour on the area’s earliest route, coast Old Coast Road.
Today’s Riviera-like drive along Highway 1 began with an A Historic Drive idea formulated in the 1890s by Dr. John D. Roberts, a Monterey physician. Seventeen years in building, Along Highway One Highway 1 opened in 1937 and was designated a by Elizabeth Barratt scenic highway in 1966.
© 2007 by The Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission
This brochure was prepared by the “All the coast passed this day is Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission Photos and postcards courtesy of Pat Hathaway, the very bold...there are mountains California Views Collection, Monterey County Library and Monterey Public Library’s California History Room. DETAILED which seem to reach the heavens, MAP For more information call the Monterey County INSIDE! and the sea beats on them.” Historical Advisory Commission (831) 755-4913
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Ship’s Log, November 13, 1542 Also : Bohemian Big Sur • El Pas Grande Del Sur
and Harlan. Without a road, these families had to depend upon upon depend to had families these road, a Without Harlan. and ambiance of solitude and timeless beauty. timeless and solitude of ambiance painter Ephraim Doner. Ephraim painter and inspiration in Big Sur’s unique and idyllic setting. setting. idyllic and unique Sur’s Big in inspiration and
including Pfeiffer, Bixby, Post, Trotter, Dani, Notley, Partington Partington Notley, Dani, Trotter, Post, Bixby, Pfeiffer, including and artisans who have sought inspiration in the area’s unique unique area’s the in inspiration sought have who artisans and lived at Big Sur, as did the English nature poet, Eric Barker and and Barker Eric poet, nature English the did as Sur, Big at lived who preceded them, these modern artists have also sought solitude solitude sought also have artists modern these them, preceded who
have been preserved in the area’s parks and geographical features, features, geographical and parks area’s the in preserved been have remoteness has made it a cultural draw for artists, writers writers artists, for draw cultural a it made has remoteness Jaime de Angulo, a physician, linguist and anthropologist, anthropologist, and linguist physician, a Angulo, de Jaime music and television. Like the generations of eclectic individuals individuals eclectic of generations the Like television. and music
after California became a state. Many of the early settlers’ names names settlers’ early the of Many state. a became California after Still largely rural in character, Big Sur’s aura of beauty and and beauty of aura Sur’s Big character, in rural largely Still as his inspiration for the setting of “The Roan Stallion.” Stallion.” Roan “The of setting the for inspiration his as wave of Big Sur artists: the rich and famous from the world of film, film, of world the from famous and rich the artists: Sur Big of wave
early 1860s, after the passage of the Homestead Act, a decade decade a Act, Homestead the of passage the after 1860s, early Jeffers would later use a deserted farm house at San Jose Creek Creek Jose San at house farm deserted a use later would Jeffers Escalating property values in recent decades have brought another another brought have decades recent in values property Escalating
The earliest permanent homesteaders in Big Sur arrived in the the in arrived Sur Big in homesteaders permanent earliest The them: gasoline stations, resorts, cafes, shops and galleries. galleries. and shops cafes, resorts, stations, gasoline them: to the Big Sur coast during the early part of the 20th Century; Century; 20th the of part early the during coast Sur Big the to
not only tourists but the industries which serve serve which industries the but tourists only not Robinson Jeffers, and writer George Sterling, had been drawn drawn been had Sterling, George writer and Jeffers, Robinson winning scientist, Linus Pauling. Pauling. Linus scientist, winning
Palo Colorado Canyon. Canyon. Colorado Palo short order, the new coast road brought brought road coast new the order, short other Big Sur writer’s and artists’ works. Both Carmel poet poet Carmel Both works. artists’ and writer’s Sur Big other his wife, environmentalist Margaret Owings, and Nobel Prize Prize Nobel and Owings, Margaret environmentalist wife, his
Sur Chiquito (1835), which led south from the Carmel River to to River Carmel the from south led which (1835), Chiquito Sur 1937, with the opening of Highway 1. In In 1. Highway of opening the with 1937, inaugurated the Henry Miller Library, to house Miller’s, and and Miller’s, house to Library, Miller Henry the inaugurated photographer Ansel Adams, architect Nathaniel Owings and and Owings Nathaniel architect Adams, Ansel photographer
grant, under a variety of owners, was the 8,876-acre San Jose y y Jose San 8,876-acre the was owners, of variety a under grant, Big Sur’s pioneer era came to a close in in close a to came era pioneer Sur’s Big White, who became Miller’s secretary and companion, later later companion, and secretary Miller’s became who White, individuals have called the Big Sur coast home, including including home, coast Sur Big the called have individuals
the land passed to Captain John Rogers Cooper. Another Mexican Mexican Another Cooper. Rogers John Captain to passed land the introduced to the area by collage artist Jean Varda. Painter Emil Emil Painter Varda. Jean artist collage by area the to introduced Over the years since the building of Highway 1, other notable notable other 1, Highway of building the since years the Over
Point. First acquired by Juan Bautista Alvarado in 1834, in 1840 1840 in 1834, in Alvarado Bautista Juan by acquired First Point. itinerary. itinerary. and the once-banned “The Tropic of Cancer.” Miller had been been had Miller Cancer.” of Tropic “The once-banned the and
which stretched from the mouth of the Little Sur River to Cooper Cooper to River Sur Little the of mouth the from stretched which Old Coast Road, a sidetrip on this map map this on sidetrip a Road, Coast Old author of “Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch,” Bosch,” Hieronymus of Oranges the and Sur “Big of author under the redwoods and in isolated cabins. cabins. isolated in and redwoods the under
(1821-1846) with the granting of the 8,949-acre Rancho El Sur, Sur, El Rancho 8,949-acre the of granting the with (1821-1846) this original route is still covered by the the by covered still is route original this their next-door neighbor, novelist and artist, Henry Miller, Miller, Henry artist, and novelist neighbor, next-door their hippies who sought alternative lifestyles, living living lifestyles, alternative sought who hippies
Big Sur’s pioneer era began during California’s Mexican Period Period Mexican California’s during began era pioneer Sur’s Big Valley as far as the Post Ranch. A portion of of portion A Ranch. Post the as far as Valley hand-hewn house in the 1940s. They became good friends with with friends good became They 1940s. the in house hand-hewn Big Sur experienced an influx of youthful youthful of influx an experienced Sur Big
extended from Bixby Canyon into the Big Sur Sur Big the into Canyon Bixby from extended Big Sur from San Simeon in 1924 before returning to build a a build to returning before 1924 in Simeon San from Sur Big for six weeks.” In the 1960s and 1970s, 1970s, and 1960s the In weeks.” six for
from the scene. scene. the from to Rancho El Sur. It was another 31 years before the route was was route the before years 31 another was It Sur. El Rancho to Ross, lived at Partington Ridge. The pair had first walked to to walked first had pair The Ridge. Partington at lived Ross, “write and be alone and undisturbed undisturbed and alone be and “write
began arriving in Big Sur, the native population had vanished vanished had population native the Sur, Big in arriving began remote Big Sur coast. By 1855 a wagon trail connected Monterey Monterey connected trail wagon a 1855 By coast. Sur Big remote Ross, who along with his first wife, poet-writer Lillian Bos Bos Lillian poet-writer wife, first his with along who Ross, in the Big Sur woods where he could could he where woods Sur Big the in
by the newcomers. By the late 1850s, when the first white settlers settlers white first the when 1850s, late the By newcomers. the by During those earliest years, only a horse trail led down to the the to down led trail horse a only years, earliest those During still-isolated land. Among them was wood sculptor, Harry Dick Dick Harry sculptor, wood was them Among land. still-isolated Jack Kerouac, who lived in a cabin cabin a in lived who Kerouac, Jack
were either assimilated, or they succumbed to diseases introduced introduced diseases to succumbed they or assimilated, either were surroundings drew artists and writers to settle in the wild, wild, the in settle to writers and artists drew surroundings exemplified by “On the Road” author author Road” the “On by exemplified
under the control of the mission system. From that time, they they time, that From system. mission the of control the under their “extras.” “extras.” their values also depreciated. The area’s modest rents and quiet quiet and rents modest area’s The depreciated. also values themselves Beatniks. Their lifestyle was was lifestyle Their Beatniks. themselves
in the Monterey and Carmel areas in 1770-71, the natives came came natives the 1770-71, in areas Carmel and Monterey the in to the twice-yearly supply runs brought in by coast steamers for for steamers coast by in brought runs supply twice-yearly the to highway traffic and tourism to a trickle in Big Sur, land land Sur, Big in trickle a to tourism and traffic highway artists and writers arrived, calling calling arrived, writers and artists
and acorns. After Spanish soldiers, clerics and civilians arrived arrived civilians and clerics soldiers, Spanish After acorns. and their own crops and livestock for subsistence, and looked forward forward looked and subsistence, for livestock and crops own their During the World War II era, when gasoline rationing slowed slowed rationing gasoline when era, II War World the During By the 1950s a younger group of Bohemian Bohemian of group younger a 1950s the By
huts made from tule and subsisted on a diet of wild animals, fish, fish, animals, wild of diet a on subsisted and tule from made huts
toward Lucia. The semi-nomadic natives lived in in lived natives semi-nomadic The Lucia. toward
the Esselen occupied the region heading south south heading region the occupied Esselen the J. Smeaton Chase, “California Coast Trails,” 1913 Trails,” Coast “California Chase, Smeaton J.
Palo Colorado and into the Little Sur; from there, there, from Sur; Little the into and Colorado Palo
human voice was still a rarity to the ear.” the to rarity a still was voice human
Rumsen occupied the area from Carmel through through Carmel from area the occupied Rumsen small camps into the Santa Lucia mountains. The The mountains. Lucia Santa the into camps small
appeared, but there was little travel on the road, and the the and road, the on travel little was there but appeared,
down the coast from Carmel to Lucia, and in in and Lucia, to Carmel from coast the down
tribes. Groups lived in small settlements stretching stretching settlements small in lived Groups tribes.
bright sea...at long intervals, stark-looking ranch houses houses ranch stark-looking intervals, long sea...at bright
Lyon Phelps, in “Recipes for Living in Big Sur” Big in Living for “Recipes in Phelps, Lyon
Big Sur coastal area was inhabited by native Indian Indian native by inhabited was area coastal Sur Big
discovered this pristine region, a portion of the the of portion a region, pristine this discovered
“All day the road wound along a rocky shore, beside a a beside shore, rocky a along wound road the day “All
before the road came through and here he is.” he here and through came road the before About 3,000 years before the first outside settlers settlers outside first the before years 3,000 About
generation...He tramped the hills to our coast coast our to hills the tramped generation...He
inheritor of Jack London’s original first first original London’s Jack of inheritor
Sur’s original and first great Bohemian, Bohemian, great first and original Sur’s
“Harry Dick Ross, what can one say of Big Big of say one can what Ross, Dick “Harry
Sur G Bi
Big Sur: The Big Country To The South The To Country Big The Sur: Big bohemian “El País Grande del Sur” del Grande País “El
Considered one of the Big Sur The world ’s great scenic drives, THE BIG SUR COAST • BY ELIZABETH BARRATT Highway 1 traces a narrow, cliff-hugging route along the edge of Big Sur’s rugged coast. On this trip, each curve in the road reveals magnificent natural expanses where, in places, mountains seem to plunge from 3,300 feet heights to disappear into the brooding sea. The region’s ethereal climate A causes majestic landscapes to appear and vanish in a teasing sea Historic fog which invites and excludes at whim. Big Drive This 37-mile drive covers the north Along Highway and central portions of the Big One Sur Coast, following Highway 1 from the Carmel River south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Along with oceanscapes and mountain vistas, the visitor Sur will see historic sites and take a detour on the area’s earliest route, coast Old Coast Road.
Today’s Riviera-like drive along Highway 1 began with an A Historic Drive idea formulated in the 1890s by Dr. John D. Roberts, a Monterey physician. Seventeen years in building, Along Highway One Highway 1 opened in 1937 and was designated a by Elizabeth Barratt scenic highway in 1966.
© 2007 by The Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission
This brochure was prepared by the “All the coast passed this day is Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission Photos and postcards courtesy of Pat Hathaway, the very bold...there are mountains California Views Collection, Monterey County Library and Monterey Public Library’s California History Room. DETAILED which seem to reach the heavens, MAP For more information call the Monterey County INSIDE! and the sea beats on them.” Historical Advisory Commission (831) 755-4913
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Ship’s Log, November 13, 1542 Also : Bohemian Big Sur • El Pas Grande Del Sur
and Harlan. Without a road, these families had to depend upon upon depend to had families these road, a Without Harlan. and ambiance of solitude and timeless beauty. timeless and solitude of ambiance painter Ephraim Doner. Ephraim painter and inspiration in Big Sur’s unique and idyllic setting. setting. idyllic and unique Sur’s Big in inspiration and
including Pfeiffer, Bixby, Post, Trotter, Dani, Notley, Partington Partington Notley, Dani, Trotter, Post, Bixby, Pfeiffer, including and artisans who have sought inspiration in the area’s unique unique area’s the in inspiration sought have who artisans and lived at Big Sur, as did the English nature poet, Eric Barker and and Barker Eric poet, nature English the did as Sur, Big at lived who preceded them, these modern artists have also sought solitude solitude sought also have artists modern these them, preceded who
have been preserved in the area’s parks and geographical features, features, geographical and parks area’s the in preserved been have remoteness has made it a cultural draw for artists, writers writers artists, for draw cultural a it made has remoteness Jaime de Angulo, a physician, linguist and anthropologist, anthropologist, and linguist physician, a Angulo, de Jaime music and television. Like the generations of eclectic individuals individuals eclectic of generations the Like television. and music
after California became a state. Many of the early settlers’ names names settlers’ early the of Many state. a became California after Still largely rural in character, Big Sur’s aura of beauty and and beauty of aura Sur’s Big character, in rural largely Still as his inspiration for the setting of “The Roan Stallion.” Stallion.” Roan “The of setting the for inspiration his as wave of Big Sur artists: the rich and famous from the world of film, film, of world the from famous and rich the artists: Sur Big of wave
early 1860s, after the passage of the Homestead Act, a decade decade a Act, Homestead the of passage the after 1860s, early Jeffers would later use a deserted farm house at San Jose Creek Creek Jose San at house farm deserted a use later would Jeffers Escalating property values in recent decades have brought another another brought have decades recent in values property Escalating
The earliest permanent homesteaders in Big Sur arrived in the the in arrived Sur Big in homesteaders permanent earliest The them: gasoline stations, resorts, cafes, shops and galleries. galleries. and shops cafes, resorts, stations, gasoline them: to the Big Sur coast during the early part of the 20th Century; Century; 20th the of part early the during coast Sur Big the to
not only tourists but the industries which serve serve which industries the but tourists only not Robinson Jeffers, and writer George Sterling, had been drawn drawn been had Sterling, George writer and Jeffers, Robinson winning scientist, Linus Pauling. Pauling. Linus scientist, winning
Palo Colorado Canyon. Canyon. Colorado Palo short order, the new coast road brought brought road coast new the order, short other Big Sur writer’s and artists’ works. Both Carmel poet poet Carmel Both works. artists’ and writer’s Sur Big other his wife, environmentalist Margaret Owings, and Nobel Prize Prize Nobel and Owings, Margaret environmentalist wife, his
Sur Chiquito (1835), which led south from the Carmel River to to River Carmel the from south led which (1835), Chiquito Sur 1937, with the opening of Highway 1. In In 1. Highway of opening the with 1937, inaugurated the Henry Miller Library, to house Miller’s, and and Miller’s, house to Library, Miller Henry the inaugurated photographer Ansel Adams, architect Nathaniel Owings and and Owings Nathaniel architect Adams, Ansel photographer
grant, under a variety of owners, was the 8,876-acre San Jose y y Jose San 8,876-acre the was owners, of variety a under grant, Big Sur’s pioneer era came to a close in in close a to came era pioneer Sur’s Big White, who became Miller’s secretary and companion, later later companion, and secretary Miller’s became who White, individuals have called the Big Sur coast home, including including home, coast Sur Big the called have individuals
the land passed to Captain John Rogers Cooper. Another Mexican Mexican Another Cooper. Rogers John Captain to passed land the introduced to the area by collage artist Jean Varda. Painter Emil Emil Painter Varda. Jean artist collage by area the to introduced Over the years since the building of Highway 1, other notable notable other 1, Highway of building the since years the Over
Point. First acquired by Juan Bautista Alvarado in 1834, in 1840 1840 in 1834, in Alvarado Bautista Juan by acquired First Point. itinerary. itinerary. and the once-banned “The Tropic of Cancer.” Miller had been been had Miller Cancer.” of Tropic “The once-banned the and
which stretched from the mouth of the Little Sur River to Cooper Cooper to River Sur Little the of mouth the from stretched which Old Coast Road, a sidetrip on this map map this on sidetrip a Road, Coast Old author of “Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch,” Bosch,” Hieronymus of Oranges the and Sur “Big of author under the redwoods and in isolated cabins. cabins. isolated in and redwoods the under
(1821-1846) with the granting of the 8,949-acre Rancho El Sur, Sur, El Rancho 8,949-acre the of granting the with (1821-1846) this original route is still covered by the the by covered still is route original this their next-door neighbor, novelist and artist, Henry Miller, Miller, Henry artist, and novelist neighbor, next-door their hippies who sought alternative lifestyles, living living lifestyles, alternative sought who hippies
Big Sur’s pioneer era began during California’s Mexican Period Period Mexican California’s during began era pioneer Sur’s Big Valley as far as the Post Ranch. A portion of of portion A Ranch. Post the as far as Valley hand-hewn house in the 1940s. They became good friends with with friends good became They 1940s. the in house hand-hewn Big Sur experienced an influx of youthful youthful of influx an experienced Sur Big
extended from Bixby Canyon into the Big Sur Sur Big the into Canyon Bixby from extended Big Sur from San Simeon in 1924 before returning to build a a build to returning before 1924 in Simeon San from Sur Big for six weeks.” In the 1960s and 1970s, 1970s, and 1960s the In weeks.” six for
from the scene. scene. the from to Rancho El Sur. It was another 31 years before the route was was route the before years 31 another was It Sur. El Rancho to Ross, lived at Partington Ridge. The pair had first walked to to walked first had pair The Ridge. Partington at lived Ross, “write and be alone and undisturbed undisturbed and alone be and “write
began arriving in Big Sur, the native population had vanished vanished had population native the Sur, Big in arriving began remote Big Sur coast. By 1855 a wagon trail connected Monterey Monterey connected trail wagon a 1855 By coast. Sur Big remote Ross, who along with his first wife, poet-writer Lillian Bos Bos Lillian poet-writer wife, first his with along who Ross, in the Big Sur woods where he could could he where woods Sur Big the in
by the newcomers. By the late 1850s, when the first white settlers settlers white first the when 1850s, late the By newcomers. the by During those earliest years, only a horse trail led down to the the to down led trail horse a only years, earliest those During still-isolated land. Among them was wood sculptor, Harry Dick Dick Harry sculptor, wood was them Among land. still-isolated Jack Kerouac, who lived in a cabin cabin a in lived who Kerouac, Jack
were either assimilated, or they succumbed to diseases introduced introduced diseases to succumbed they or assimilated, either were surroundings drew artists and writers to settle in the wild, wild, the in settle to writers and artists drew surroundings exemplified by “On the Road” author author Road” the “On by exemplified
under the control of the mission system. From that time, they they time, that From system. mission the of control the under their “extras.” “extras.” their values also depreciated. The area’s modest rents and quiet quiet and rents modest area’s The depreciated. also values themselves Beatniks. Their lifestyle was was lifestyle Their Beatniks. themselves
in the Monterey and Carmel areas in 1770-71, the natives came came natives the 1770-71, in areas Carmel and Monterey the in to the twice-yearly supply runs brought in by coast steamers for for steamers coast by in brought runs supply twice-yearly the to highway traffic and tourism to a trickle in Big Sur, land land Sur, Big in trickle a to tourism and traffic highway artists and writers arrived, calling calling arrived, writers and artists
and acorns. After Spanish soldiers, clerics and civilians arrived arrived civilians and clerics soldiers, Spanish After acorns. and their own crops and livestock for subsistence, and looked forward forward looked and subsistence, for livestock and crops own their During the World War II era, when gasoline rationing slowed slowed rationing gasoline when era, II War World the During By the 1950s a younger group of Bohemian Bohemian of group younger a 1950s the By
huts made from tule and subsisted on a diet of wild animals, fish, fish, animals, wild of diet a on subsisted and tule from made huts
toward Lucia. The semi-nomadic natives lived in in lived natives semi-nomadic The Lucia. toward
the Esselen occupied the region heading south south heading region the occupied Esselen the J. Smeaton Chase, “California Coast Trails,” 1913 Trails,” Coast “California Chase, Smeaton J.
Palo Colorado and into the Little Sur; from there, there, from Sur; Little the into and Colorado Palo
human voice was still a rarity to the ear.” the to rarity a still was voice human
Rumsen occupied the area from Carmel through through Carmel from area the occupied Rumsen
small camps into the Santa Lucia mountains. The The mountains. Lucia Santa the into camps small
appeared, but there was little travel on the road, and the the and road, the on travel little was there but appeared,
down the coast from Carmel to Lucia, and in in and Lucia, to Carmel from coast the down
tribes. Groups lived in small settlements stretching stretching settlements small in lived Groups tribes.
bright sea...at long intervals, stark-looking ranch houses houses ranch stark-looking intervals, long sea...at bright
Lyon Phelps, in “Recipes for Living in Big Sur” Big in Living for “Recipes in Phelps, Lyon
Big Sur coastal area was inhabited by native Indian Indian native by inhabited was area coastal Sur Big
discovered this pristine region, a portion of the the of portion a region, pristine this discovered
“All day the road wound along a rocky shore, beside a a beside shore, rocky a along wound road the day “All
before the road came through and here he is.” he here and through came road the before About 3,000 years before the first outside settlers settlers outside first the before years 3,000 About
generation...He tramped the hills to our coast coast our to hills the tramped generation...He
inheritor of Jack London’s original first first original London’s Jack of inheritor
Sur’s original and first great Bohemian, Bohemian, great first and original Sur’s
“Harry Dick Ross, what can one say of Big Big of say one can what Ross, Dick “Harry
Sur G Bi
Big Sur: The Big Country To The South The To Country Big The Sur: Big bohemian “El País Grande del Sur” del Grande País “El
Considered one of the Big Sur The world ’s great scenic drives, THE BIG SUR COAST • BY ELIZABETH BARRATT Highway 1 traces a narrow, cliff-hugging route along the edge of Big Sur’s rugged coast. On this trip, each curve in the road reveals magnificent natural expanses where, in places, mountains seem to plunge from 3,300 feet heights to disappear into the brooding sea. The region’s ethereal climate A causes majestic landscapes to appear and vanish in a teasing sea Historic fog which invites and excludes at whim. Big Drive This 37-mile drive covers the north Along Highway and central portions of the Big One Sur Coast, following Highway 1 from the Carmel River south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Along with oceanscapes and mountain vistas, the visitor Sur will see historic sites and take a detour on the area’s earliest route, coast Old Coast Road.
Today’s Riviera-like drive along Highway 1 began with an A Historic Drive idea formulated in the 1890s by Dr. John D. Roberts, a Monterey physician. Seventeen years in building, Along Highway One Highway 1 opened in 1937 and was designated a by Elizabeth Barratt scenic highway in 1966.
© 2007 by The Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission
This brochure was prepared by the “All the coast passed this day is Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission Photos and postcards courtesy of Pat Hathaway, the very bold...there are mountains California Views Collection, Monterey County Library and Monterey Public Library’s California History Room. DETAILED which seem to reach the heavens, MAP For more information call the Monterey County INSIDE! and the sea beats on them.” Historical Advisory Commission (831) 755-4913
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Ship’s Log, November 13, 1542 Also : Bohemian Big Sur • El Pas Grande Del Sur at th e interse he ction egin t drive of H B igh 1 w ay 1 a t Rio 4 3.3 Miles: Roa d, in Carmel Highlands Car The rocky, coastal Carmel mel. Highlands area, overlooked by the 2 1920’s-era Highland Inn resort hotel, 0.2 Miles: was first developed in 1916 by Carmel Carmel River Bridge The residents Frank Devendorf In 1602, explorer Sebastian de Vizcaino and Frank Powers. The first named this river the Rio del Carmelo. area was named for After 168 years, in late fall, 1769, Gaspar de its resemblance Portolá and a group of Spanish soldiers, with Padre to the Scottish Crespi, camped at nearby San José Creek, possibly on coastline. the beach across from the present Carmelite Monastery. In 1770, on the second Portolá expedition, engineer Miguel de Costansó described this unspoiled area as “fields of tall coarse grass which entirely hide a man on horseback, proof of the fierceness of the land. “ When nearby 2.2 Miles: Mission San Carlos de Borromeo was founded in Dark silhouettes of rocks 1771, Padre Palou wrote that the land was and trees against the distant blue “forested with willows and other trees, of the rolling water, micro-climate with extensive thickets of blackberries, zones, hidden beaches, seals and otters Sidetrip: and an infinity of Castillian roses.” floating just offshore, all await discovery at The Old Coast Road 5 Point Lobos State Reserve. An interpretive museum at the circa 1870s Whalers Cabin B Old Coast Road is a vestige of an earlier route down 6.7 Miles: offers displays on the site’s Chinese fishing the coast prior to the completion of Highway 1. At first little At this point of land, a part village and Japanese abalone diving more than a path, this was the route travelers used to reach Big Sur. of larger Garrapata State Park, industry, also coal mining, dairying, Only ten miles long, the Old Coast Road’s surface varies, making this a a cliffside path leads to Soberanes whaling and Hollywood movies one-hour sidetrip. The route passes over Sierra Hill between the Bixby Point, named for a pioneer Monterey filmed at this cove. Creek and Little Sur River drainages, crossing two ridges of the Santa family of the Mexican era. Seasonally, Lucia mountain range. Occasional hairpin turns and the slow, steep whale migrations pass near the 6 drive allows for time to absorb the expansive scenery. At the top of the shoreline. Hiking trails lead from 11.0 Miles: first hill, view the rugged coast stretching northward, while below, Bixby a group of wind-sculpted cypress At Palo Colorado Road, notice the imposing, two-story, Creek Bridge forms a striking silhouette against the ocean. Weathered directly across the highway, redwood-log Trotter House, occupied by farms nestle comfortably here against the eastern slopes. up through Soberanes Canyon. early resident, Sam Trotter from 1906-1923. Old Coast Road winds down into the 13.2 Miles: the Bixby Creek Bridge, At 260 7 feet high and 700 feet long, this is one of the world’s i first of several forested areas, cool and 16.5 Miles: damp after the sunny warmth of the highest single-span concrete bridges. The graceful In the eastern distance, 9 hillsides. A free-flowing creek, arch over the Bixby Canyon makes it one of the looming Pico Blanco, once numerous tiny waterfalls, plus most photographed bridges in the west. Turn east here to travel the Old Coast Road. sacred to the area’s native inhabitants, several trailheads draw weekend oversees the short, curving highway descent hikers. 14.4 Miles: From 800 feet above the sea along the Little Sur River and valley. 8 at Hurricane Point, turnouts allow for Beyond the last dip into more views of the coastline and 18.3 Miles: Situated 350 feet above the shoreline, a forested grove, the drive Bixby Creek Bridge. To the south, the Point Sur Light Station was inaugurated in 1889. 10 emerges high atop a hill, with Sidetrip Point Sur protrudes into The 18-foot tall beacon and related facilities took two space to pull over. In the distance the sea. years to complete. Perched near the top of the enormous rocky outcropping, the first light beam was powered by a slopes fold seaward and fog catches large multi-wick kerosene lamp, surrounded by a 6,000- in tiny canyons, carried upward in pound Fresnel lens, sending a light signal visible for 23 g wisps by sweeping ocean breezes. A sense of nautical miles. The system was balanced on a turning timelessness pervades the serene landscape. As the last of the mechanism powered by weights, while steam-driven fog hilly drive fades away, the road returns to Highway 1 at Andrew signals whistled loud warning blasts out to sea. In Molera State Park. time, an automated electric beam on a powered turning system and radio signals replaced the original light and sound system.
21.4 Miles: At Andrew Molera State 11 Park, a trail leads from the parking lot through a former dairy pasture, to a wide beach with weathered cliffs and rock-strewn shoreline, sometimes buffeted by brisk breezes. To the north, Molera Point, and Cooper Point to the south, are named for the two pioneer families who S occupied this magnificent acreage. The land was once part of the 9,000-acre Rancho El Sur granted in 1834 to 13 Juan Bautista Alvarado. The property passed to his uncle, 28.1 Miles: Captain John Rogers Cooper. Peek in the windows of 25.9 Miles: 15 The Post House, the circa 1861 Cooper Cabin, set in a eucalyptus grove Surrounded by sun-dappled on the left, home of along the trail leading to Molera Point. Foundations at bay laurel and redwood, Pfeiffer Big the area’s first American Creamery Meadow date to the Sur State Park was named for the pioneer settlers, dates to the late era under Andrew Molera Pfeiffer family, the area’s first permanent white 1860s and is now part when Monterey Jack settlers. With the lulling murmur of the river of the Ventana Inn 23.9 Miles: Cheese was made at 12 flowing past, a day out here calls for a lazy wade, properties. Big Sur Village hiking the trails, climbing the gorge, or lunch on the the ranch. covers a six-mile stretch veranda of the Big Sur Lodge. nestled between the Santa 14 Lucia mountains and the 16 Big Sur River. Here you will u A sharp right turn onto 27.0 Miles: Sycamore Canyon 28.8 Miles: find campgrounds, gift Road heads 2 miles into secluded woods down a narrow, Today’s Nepenthe shops, cafes, galleries, mostly unmarked road before emerging at Pfeiffer Restaurant incorporates a general store, post Beach, where cypress woods face the shore. Massive former log cabin built in 1925 by office. offshore rocks, nature-cut with intriguing windows Sam Trotter for members of the Pacific and doorways. allow a peek through to the Trails Club. Hollywood actor Orson ocean beyond. Waves burst through the Welles bought the property in 1944 for rugged openings with sound and force. his wife, Rita Hayworth, then sold it in 1947 to the Fassett family, who in 1949 opened Nepenthe restaurant, designed by Rowan Maiden, apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright. r
28.9 Miles: 19 36.8 Miles: 17 Henry Miller At pristine Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, rushing Coast Memorial McWay Creek courses past the tiny 1940 Pelton ... Library holds For a wrap Wheel electric power plant which once powered a to this visually stunning less-visited Big works by the now-vanished nearby residence. The creek heads on famous author to the sea, emerging high on a cliff at McWay Falls, Sur park, a quiet stroll beneath the ancient A who once lived in to land hundreds of feet below, splashing in front redwood growths along the trails offer quiet Big Sur. HISTORIC of a cove which faces a tiny beach. Clear vantage reflection on the area’s history and allure. areas from the Waterfall Trail Hike reveal mountain DRIVE 29.6 Miles: fingers pointing southward into the sea. To the Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn, listed on BY ELIZABETH BARRATT the National Register, was built north, Partington Canyon and Cove are named for in the mid-1930s by immigrant the pioneer family which settled in the area in 1874. Helmut Deetjen in a Norwegian In the late 19th Century, supplies were shipped and architectural style. off- loaded from Partington’s Landing.
and Harlan. Without a road, these families had to depend upon upon depend to had families these road, a Without Harlan. and ambiance of solitude and timeless beauty. timeless and solitude of ambiance painter Ephraim Doner. Ephraim painter and inspiration in Big Sur’s unique and idyllic setting. setting. idyllic and unique Sur’s Big in inspiration and
including Pfeiffer, Bixby, Post, Trotter, Dani, Notley, Partington Partington Notley, Dani, Trotter, Post, Bixby, Pfeiffer, including and artisans who have sought inspiration in the area’s unique unique area’s the in inspiration sought have who artisans and lived at Big Sur, as did the English nature poet, Eric Barker and and Barker Eric poet, nature English the did as Sur, Big at lived who preceded them, these modern artists have also sought solitude solitude sought also have artists modern these them, preceded who
have been preserved in the area’s parks and geographical features, features, geographical and parks area’s the in preserved been have remoteness has made it a cultural draw for artists, writers writers artists, for draw cultural a it made has remoteness Jaime de Angulo, a physician, linguist and anthropologist, anthropologist, and linguist physician, a Angulo, de Jaime music and television. Like the generations of eclectic individuals individuals eclectic of generations the Like television. and music
after California became a state. Many of the early settlers’ names names settlers’ early the of Many state. a became California after Still largely rural in character, Big Sur’s aura of beauty and and beauty of aura Sur’s Big character, in rural largely Still as his inspiration for the setting of “The Roan Stallion.” Stallion.” Roan “The of setting the for inspiration his as wave of Big Sur artists: the rich and famous from the world of film, film, of world the from famous and rich the artists: Sur Big of wave
early 1860s, after the passage of the Homestead Act, a decade decade a Act, Homestead the of passage the after 1860s, early Jeffers would later use a deserted farm house at San Jose Creek Creek Jose San at house farm deserted a use later would Jeffers Escalating property values in recent decades have brought another another brought have decades recent in values property Escalating
The earliest permanent homesteaders in Big Sur arrived in the the in arrived Sur Big in homesteaders permanent earliest The them: gasoline stations, resorts, cafes, shops and galleries. galleries. and shops cafes, resorts, stations, gasoline them: to the Big Sur coast during the early part of the 20th Century; Century; 20th the of part early the during coast Sur Big the to
not only tourists but the industries which serve serve which industries the but tourists only not Robinson Jeffers, and writer George Sterling, had been drawn drawn been had Sterling, George writer and Jeffers, Robinson winning scientist, Linus Pauling. Pauling. Linus scientist, winning
Palo Colorado Canyon. Canyon. Colorado Palo short order, the new coast road brought brought road coast new the order, short other Big Sur writer’s and artists’ works. Both Carmel poet poet Carmel Both works. artists’ and writer’s Sur Big other his wife, environmentalist Margaret Owings, and Nobel Prize Prize Nobel and Owings, Margaret environmentalist wife, his
Sur Chiquito (1835), which led south from the Carmel River to to River Carmel the from south led which (1835), Chiquito Sur 1937, with the opening of Highway 1. In In 1. Highway of opening the with 1937, inaugurated the Henry Miller Library, to house Miller’s, and and Miller’s, house to Library, Miller Henry the inaugurated photographer Ansel Adams, architect Nathaniel Owings and and Owings Nathaniel architect Adams, Ansel photographer
grant, under a variety of owners, was the 8,876-acre San Jose y y Jose San 8,876-acre the was owners, of variety a under grant, Big Sur’s pioneer era came to a close in in close a to came era pioneer Sur’s Big White, who became Miller’s secretary and companion, later later companion, and secretary Miller’s became who White, individuals have called the Big Sur coast home, including including home, coast Sur Big the called have individuals
the land passed to Captain John Rogers Cooper. Another Mexican Mexican Another Cooper. Rogers John Captain to passed land the introduced to the area by collage artist Jean Varda. Painter Emil Emil Painter Varda. Jean artist collage by area the to introduced Over the years since the building of Highway 1, other notable notable other 1, Highway of building the since years the Over
Point. First acquired by Juan Bautista Alvarado in 1834, in 1840 1840 in 1834, in Alvarado Bautista Juan by acquired First Point. itinerary. itinerary. and the once-banned “The Tropic of Cancer.” Miller had been been had Miller Cancer.” of Tropic “The once-banned the and
which stretched from the mouth of the Little Sur River to Cooper Cooper to River Sur Little the of mouth the from stretched which Old Coast Road, a sidetrip on this map map this on sidetrip a Road, Coast Old author of “Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch,” Bosch,” Hieronymus of Oranges the and Sur “Big of author under the redwoods and in isolated cabins. cabins. isolated in and redwoods the under
(1821-1846) with the granting of the 8,949-acre Rancho El Sur, Sur, El Rancho 8,949-acre the of granting the with (1821-1846) this original route is still covered by the the by covered still is route original this their next-door neighbor, novelist and artist, Henry Miller, Miller, Henry artist, and novelist neighbor, next-door their hippies who sought alternative lifestyles, living living lifestyles, alternative sought who hippies
Big Sur’s pioneer era began during California’s Mexican Period Period Mexican California’s during began era pioneer Sur’s Big Valley as far as the Post Ranch. A portion of of portion A Ranch. Post the as far as Valley hand-hewn house in the 1940s. They became good friends with with friends good became They 1940s. the in house hand-hewn Big Sur experienced an influx of youthful youthful of influx an experienced Sur Big
extended from Bixby Canyon into the Big Sur Sur Big the into Canyon Bixby from extended Big Sur from San Simeon in 1924 before returning to build a a build to returning before 1924 in Simeon San from Sur Big for six weeks.” In the 1960s and 1970s, 1970s, and 1960s the In weeks.” six for
from the scene. scene. the from to Rancho El Sur. It was another 31 years before the route was was route the before years 31 another was It Sur. El Rancho to Ross, lived at Partington Ridge. The pair had first walked to to walked first had pair The Ridge. Partington at lived Ross, “write and be alone and undisturbed undisturbed and alone be and “write
began arriving in Big Sur, the native population had vanished vanished had population native the Sur, Big in arriving began remote Big Sur coast. By 1855 a wagon trail connected Monterey Monterey connected trail wagon a 1855 By coast. Sur Big remote Ross, who along with his first wife, poet-writer Lillian Bos Bos Lillian poet-writer wife, first his with along who Ross, in the Big Sur woods where he could could he where woods Sur Big the in
by the newcomers. By the late 1850s, when the first white settlers settlers white first the when 1850s, late the By newcomers. the by During those earliest years, only a horse trail led down to the the to down led trail horse a only years, earliest those During still-isolated land. Among them was wood sculptor, Harry Dick Dick Harry sculptor, wood was them Among land. still-isolated Jack Kerouac, who lived in a cabin cabin a in lived who Kerouac, Jack
were either assimilated, or they succumbed to diseases introduced introduced diseases to succumbed they or assimilated, either were surroundings drew artists and writers to settle in the wild, wild, the in settle to writers and artists drew surroundings exemplified by “On the Road” author author Road” the “On by exemplified
under the control of the mission system. From that time, they they time, that From system. mission the of control the under their “extras.” “extras.” their values also depreciated. The area’s modest rents and quiet quiet and rents modest area’s The depreciated. also values themselves Beatniks. Their lifestyle was was lifestyle Their Beatniks. themselves
in the Monterey and Carmel areas in 1770-71, the natives came came natives the 1770-71, in areas Carmel and Monterey the in to the twice-yearly supply runs brought in by coast steamers for for steamers coast by in brought runs supply twice-yearly the to highway traffic and tourism to a trickle in Big Sur, land land Sur, Big in trickle a to tourism and traffic highway artists and writers arrived, calling calling arrived, writers and artists
and acorns. After Spanish soldiers, clerics and civilians arrived arrived civilians and clerics soldiers, Spanish After acorns. and their own crops and livestock for subsistence, and looked forward forward looked and subsistence, for livestock and crops own their During the World War II era, when gasoline rationing slowed slowed rationing gasoline when era, II War World the During By the 1950s a younger group of Bohemian Bohemian of group younger a 1950s the By
huts made from tule and subsisted on a diet of wild animals, fish, fish, animals, wild of diet a on subsisted and tule from made huts
toward Lucia. The semi-nomadic natives lived in in lived natives semi-nomadic The Lucia. toward
the Esselen occupied the region heading south south heading region the occupied Esselen the J. Smeaton Chase, “California Coast Trails,” 1913 Trails,” Coast “California Chase, Smeaton J.
Palo Colorado and into the Little Sur; from there, there, from Sur; Little the into and Colorado Palo
human voice was still a rarity to the ear.” the to rarity a still was voice human
Rumsen occupied the area from Carmel through through Carmel from area the occupied Rumsen
small camps into the Santa Lucia mountains. The The mountains. Lucia Santa the into camps small
appeared, but there was little travel on the road, and the the and road, the on travel little was there but appeared,
down the coast from Carmel to Lucia, and in in and Lucia, to Carmel from coast the down
tribes. Groups lived in small settlements stretching stretching settlements small in lived Groups tribes.
bright sea...at long intervals, stark-looking ranch houses houses ranch stark-looking intervals, long sea...at bright
Lyon Phelps, in “Recipes for Living in Big Sur” Big in Living for “Recipes in Phelps, Lyon
Big Sur coastal area was inhabited by native Indian Indian native by inhabited was area coastal Sur Big
discovered this pristine region, a portion of the the of portion a region, pristine this discovered
“All day the road wound along a rocky shore, beside a a beside shore, rocky a along wound road the day “All
before the road came through and here he is.” he here and through came road the before About 3,000 years before the first outside settlers settlers outside first the before years 3,000 About
generation...He tramped the hills to our coast coast our to hills the tramped generation...He
inheritor of Jack London’s original first first original London’s Jack of inheritor
Sur’s original and first great Bohemian, Bohemian, great first and original Sur’s
“Harry Dick Ross, what can one say of Big Big of say one can what Ross, Dick “Harry
Sur G Bi
Big Sur: The Big Country To The South The To Country Big The Sur: Big bohemian “El País Grande del Sur” del Grande País “El
Considered one of the Big Sur The world ’s great scenic drives, THE BIG SUR COAST • BY ELIZABETH BARRATT Highway 1 traces a narrow, cliff-hugging route along the edge of Big Sur’s rugged coast. On this trip, each curve in the road reveals magnificent natural expanses where, in places, mountains seem to plunge from 3,300 feet heights to disappear into the brooding sea. The region’s ethereal climate A causes majestic landscapes to appear and vanish in a teasing sea Historic fog which invites and excludes at whim. Big Drive This 37-mile drive covers the north Along Highway and central portions of the Big One Sur Coast, following Highway 1 from the Carmel River south to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Along with oceanscapes and mountain vistas, the visitor Sur will see historic sites and take a detour on the area’s earliest route, coast Old Coast Road.
Today’s Riviera-like drive along Highway 1 began with an A Historic Drive idea formulated in the 1890s by Dr. John D. Roberts, a Monterey physician. Seventeen years in building, Along Highway One Highway 1 opened in 1937 and was designated a by Elizabeth Barratt scenic highway in 1966.
© 2007 by The Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission
This brochure was prepared by the “All the coast passed this day is Monterey County Historical Advisory Commission Photos and postcards courtesy of Pat Hathaway, the very bold...there are mountains California Views Collection, Monterey County Library and Monterey Public Library’s California History Room. DETAILED which seem to reach the heavens, MAP For more information call the Monterey County INSIDE! and the sea beats on them.” Historical Advisory Commission (831) 755-4913
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Ship’s Log, November 13, 1542 Also : Bohemian Big Sur • El Pas Grande Del Sur