{"product_id":"old-map-of-los-angeles-california-by-usgs-1900-pasadena-santa-monica-beverly-hills","title":"Old Map of Los Angeles, California by USGS, 1900 – Pasadena, Santa Monica \u0026 Beverly Hills","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitled “Los Angeles,” this US Geological Survey topographical map was created in 1900 and issued with a 1904 imprint, capturing Southern California at a decisive threshold between rancho landscape and modern metropolis. At 1:62,500 scale, it presents Los Angeles and its environs with the quiet authority of federal scientific mapping: Pasadena to the northeast, Santa Monica on the coast, Belvedere to the east, and the early outlines of Beverly Hills and San Marino. The map records a region still legible as fields, foothills, arroyos, missions, roads, railways, and scattered settlements, just before the explosive growth that would redefine the basin. Its restrained palette of browns and tonal shading gives particular prominence to relief, drainage, and the structure of the land itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe USGS was then at the height of its formative topographic mission, systematically measuring and describing the American landscape for public works, settlement, resource study, and transportation. In fast-growing Southern California, such maps were far more than geographic references: they were instruments of planning, speculation, engineering, and civic ambition. Contour lines trace the folded terrain around Los Angeles with precision, revealing the hills, washes, and valleys that shaped early development long before freeways imposed a new order. The map’s scientific clarity is part of its beauty. It translates a dynamic urban frontier into measured lines and elevations, preserving a moment when the future city was still deeply governed by topography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLos Angeles appears here before its later transformation into one of the world’s great urban agglomerations. The historic core, Fort Moore, Elysian Park, Lincoln Park, Los Feliz, and Mount Washington are set within a wider fabric of roads, trails, rail lines, and open land. The Arroyo Seco and Rio Hondo define natural corridors through the basin, while place names such as Rose de la Brea recall an older landscape of ranches, seeps, and Spanish-Mexican inheritance. To modern eyes, the map is striking for what is absent as much as what is present: the vast suburban expanse, dense street grids, and cinematic mythology of twentieth-century Los Angeles had not yet fully arrived.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo the northeast, Pasadena and San Marino occupy a landscape already associated with refinement, winter residences, gardens, and cultural aspiration. Pasadena’s rise as a resort city for wealthy Easterners is quietly suggested by its position amid foothills, orchards, and the dramatic approach to the San Gabriel Mountains. Nearby La Cañada, Tujunga, and the San Gabriel Timber Land Reserve point toward a rugged hinterland of canyons and mountain resources, where settlement met steep terrain. The contour work in this portion of the map is especially evocative, showing how the built environment pressed against natural barriers. It is a portrait of Southern California before urban continuity softened the distinction between city, suburb, and wilderness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWestward, the map reaches toward Santa Monica and the Pacific, while northward it includes Encino, Mission San Fernando, and the San Fernando Valley, still largely rural in character. Beverly Hills, not yet the international emblem of luxury it would become, appears in its embryonic setting within a broad and lightly developed landscape. El Monte, San Antonio Padre, San Francisquito, Provo Grande, and other place names evoke layered histories of mission roads, ranchos, agricultural settlement, and early transportation routes. The resulting image is both technical document and historical revelation: a finely measured view of a region on the cusp of reinvention, where every contour and road hints at the immense city to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLos Angeles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePasadena\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSanta Monica\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeverly Hills\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBelvedere\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSan Marino\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEncino\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSan Fernando Valley\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSan Gabriel Timber Land Reserve\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMission San Fernando\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEl Monte\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSan Antonio Padre\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSan Franciscquito\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLa Canada\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTujunga\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLos Feliz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvo Grande\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFort Moore\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArroyo Seco\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRio Hondo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElysian Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLincoln Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMount Washington\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSan Jose\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRose de la Brea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVaried neighborhoods of Los Angeles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious roads, trails, and railways depicted across the landscape\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical 1:62,500 topographical map of the Los Angeles area, dated 1900 with a 1904 imprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated in 1900 and published in 1904.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublished by the US Geological Survey, an agency of the U.S. government responsible for mapping and studying the country’s natural resources.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUSGS topographic maps were important tools for land use planning, development, resource study, and recreation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the early 1900s, Los Angeles was experiencing rapid growth, transitioning from a smaller settlement into a major urban center.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePasadena was associated with wealthy residents and cultural institutions, while Beverly Hills was emerging as a significant residential area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map uses a simple brown-toned color scheme to show elevation and terrain, characteristic of early 20th-century cartography.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eContour lines emphasize changes in elevation and reveal the hilly terrain surrounding Los Angeles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map captures the region before later suburban expansion, major land-use changes, and the dramatic growth of modern Los Angeles.\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=\"\/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=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 36x24in (90x60cm) 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=\"\/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=\"\/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":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Map","offer_id":59902588092800,"sku":null,"price":83.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59902588125568,"sku":null,"price":223.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x18in (30x45cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":59902588158336,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Map","offer_id":59902588191104,"sku":null,"price":155.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59902588223872,"sku":null,"price":339.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"14x24in (36x60cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":59902588256640,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Map","offer_id":59902588289408,"sku":null,"price":187.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59902588322176,"sku":null,"price":508.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":59902588354944,"sku":null,"price":572.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Map","offer_id":59902588387712,"sku":null,"price":244.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59902588420480,"sku":null,"price":995.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x45in (70x114cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":59902588453248,"sku":null,"price":995.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Map","offer_id":59902588486016,"sku":null,"price":445.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59902588518784,"sku":null,"price":1852.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"31x50in (79x127cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":59902588551552,"sku":null,"price":1598.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Map","offer_id":59902588584320,"sku":null,"price":593.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59902588617088,"sku":null,"price":2963.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"33x60in (84x150cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":59902588649856,"sku":null,"price":2751.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Map","offer_id":59902588682624,"sku":null,"price":974.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":59902588715392,"sku":null,"price":3968.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"44x70in (112x178cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":59902588748160,"sku":null,"price":3704.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_6a11d811-0af6-4ad8-9a19-54702b9fca9e.jpg?v=1789568550","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.net\/products\/old-map-of-los-angeles-california-by-usgs-1900-pasadena-santa-monica-beverly-hills","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}