{"product_id":"old-map-of-san-anselmo-california-by-usgs-1954-san-rafael-ross-mount-tamalpais","title":"Old Map of San Anselmo, California by USGS, 1954 – San Rafael, Ross \u0026 Mount Tamalpais","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1955 from 1954 US Geological Survey work, “San Rafael” presents a finely detailed mid-century portrait of central Marin County at the precise 1:24,000 scale. Though named for the county seat, the map gives particular prominence to San Anselmo and its surrounding communities, placing them within a richly contoured landscape of ridges, creek valleys, reservoirs, roads, and rail lines. This was Marin before the full force of postwar suburban expansion reshaped its hillsides and transportation corridors, making the sheet a compelling record of both settlement and terrain. San Rafael, Ross, Fairfax, Corte Madera, Marinwood, and Tamalpais Valley appear not as isolated towns, but as parts of a connected landscape defined by movement, water, elevation, and proximity to Mount Tamalpais.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US Geological Survey’s cartographic discipline is evident throughout the map’s measured design. Contour lines articulate the folds and rises of the land with exceptional clarity, turning the ridges around San Anselmo and San Rafael into a legible system of slopes, saddles, and valleys. The classic USGS color language distinguishes built areas, vegetation, hydrography, and relief without overwhelming the eye, creating a map that is both scientific and quietly elegant. Roads and highways are carefully annotated, while railways trace an earlier geography of local connection. Creeks thread through the lowlands and canyons, reminding the viewer that Marin’s towns developed in close conversation with drainage patterns, narrow valley floors, and the steep terrain that surrounds them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSan Anselmo is especially evocative on this map, shown at a moment when its identity as a refined Marin community was already established, yet before later development filled many surrounding spaces. Set among hills west of San Rafael and near the neighboring enclave of Ross, the town occupies a geographic position that helps explain its enduring appeal: sheltered, residential, and closely tied to the wooded valleys leading toward Fairfax and the Mount Tamalpais watershed. The map captures this balance between community and landscape, marking streets and routes while leaving the surrounding contours to assert the dominance of terrain. For collectors drawn to California’s social and geographic history, it is a revealing image of affluence, access, and topography intertwined.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond the towns, the map’s reservoirs and uplands underscore the importance of water and conservation in Marin County’s development. Bon Tempe Lake and Kent Lake anchor a landscape of watershed management, wooded slopes, and recreational access near the flanks of Mount Tamalpais. Trails, parks, and creek courses hint at the region’s longstanding relationship with outdoor life, from local walking routes to broader excursions into the mountain country north of the Golden Gate. The reservoirs are not merely geographic features; they represent civic planning, environmental adaptation, and the practical demands of growing Bay Area communities. In this sense, the map documents a landscape where natural beauty, public utility, and residential desirability converged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical topographical representation, “San Rafael” offers more than a location guide: it preserves a mid-20th-century version of Marin County at a formative moment. The postwar years brought new roads, new neighborhoods, and increasing commuter ties to San Francisco, yet this map still shows a region shaped profoundly by hills, watersheds, rail routes, and compact town centers. Its appeal lies in that tension between permanence and change. Mount Tamalpais, the lakes, and the sinuous creek valleys remain enduring presences, while the human geography reflects a particular historical phase. For admirers of California cartography, it is a sophisticated record of place, where technical precision reveals the layered character of one of the Bay Area’s most distinctive landscapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSan Anselmo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSan Rafael\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarin County\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoss\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFairfax\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTamalpais Valley\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMount Tamalpais\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarinwood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCorte Madera\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBon Tempe Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKent Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreeks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHighways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRailways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReservoirs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMountain ranges and peaks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey (USGS)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated in 1954 and published in 1955\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: 1:24,000\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical topographical map focusing on San Anselmo, California\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncorporates USGS survey data emphasizing geographical and populated features\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProminently features San Anselmo, noted for its affluent neighborhoods and proximity to Marin County historical sites\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses a typical USGS color scheme to represent topography and vegetation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed contour lines show elevation changes, hills, and valleys\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflects the San Anselmo area in the mid-20th century, before later urbanization and development significantly altered the region\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/it\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/it\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/it\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/it\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":59891934200192,"sku":null,"price":83.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59891934232960,"sku":null,"price":223.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":59891934265728,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":59891934298496,"sku":null,"price":83.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59891934331264,"sku":null,"price":223.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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