Published in 1966 from 1954 survey work, the US Geological Survey’s “San Rafael Quadrangle” captures southern Marin County at a revealing mid-century moment, when wooded ridges, bayfront towns, military landscapes, and expanding suburbs still met in close and dramatic proximity. At the precise 1:24,000 scale for which USGS quadrangles are prized, the map embraces Mill Valley, San Rafael, Sausalito, Marin City, Corte Madera, Richardson Bay, and the steep approaches to Mount Tamalpais. Its vibrant cartographic language distinguishes urbanized areas in red, vegetated terrain in green, and elevation through finely graded contour lines. The result is both a scientific document and an elegant portrait of a region defined by compressed geography: mountain slopes, tidal flats, wooded canyons, and rapidly developing corridors all within sight of San Francisco Bay.

The US Geological Survey brought to this map nearly a century of institutional expertise in measuring, classifying, and rendering the American landscape. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the nation’s principal authority on topographic mapping, producing quadrangles used by engineers, planners, geologists, foresters, hikers, and public agencies. In the “San Rafael Quadrangle,” that mission is visible in the disciplined density of information: contour intervals articulate the folds of the Marin hills, roads and rail alignments reveal patterns of settlement, and streams, reservoirs, shorelines, and marshes are carefully integrated into the built environment. The map’s clarity is part of its beauty. Rather than romanticizing the terrain, it lets the geometry of the landscape speak through a meticulous system of symbols, colors, names, and measured relief.

Mill Valley occupies one of the map’s most evocative settings, tucked among steep hillsides below Mount Tamalpais and oriented toward the sheltered waters of Richardson Bay. Its street pattern climbs through ravines and wooded slopes, contrasting sharply with the flatter commercial and civic landscapes of San Rafael to the north. Sausalito and Marin City appear near the southern edge of the sheet, close to the Marin Headlands and the approach to the Golden Gate. Corte Madera and the corridors of Highway 101 and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard indicate the growing importance of automobile movement through the county. Together, these places reveal Marin as a landscape of transition: older ferry-era communities, postwar residential expansion, bayfront industry, military remnants, and recreational foothills all converging in a compact coastal terrain.

The topographic character of the quadrangle is particularly compelling. Mount Tamalpais dominates the western portion, its ridges and drainages rendered by tight contouring that conveys abrupt elevation change and the sculptural quality of the mountain. Tennessee Valley, Tamalpais Creek, Corte Madera Creek, and other waterways thread through canyons and lowlands, marking the natural routes by which water descends toward the bay. Bon Tempe Lake and the upland watershed areas add another dimension, showing the importance of reservoirs and protected catchments in Marin’s development. Much of the land now associated with celebrated open-space landscapes, including Mount Tamalpais State Park and areas later incorporated into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area or local open-space systems, appears here in a formative cartographic moment before later conservation designations reshaped public understanding of the region.

As a historical document, the “San Rafael Quadrangle” records Marin County before several decisive decades of environmental policy, suburban growth, and land-use planning transformed the region. Since the 1954 survey, communities such as Mill Valley, San Rafael, Corte Madera, and Sausalito have faced intense pressure from population growth, commuting patterns, and rising property values, while citizens and planners also fought to preserve hillsides, watersheds, and bayfront habitats. The map therefore carries a subtle tension: red urban forms press into green uplands, roads curve through valleys, and undeveloped slopes still dominate much of the view. It is an especially rich depiction of a Bay Area landscape on the cusp of modern Marin—already connected, desirable, and complex, yet still visibly shaped by mountain, water, and open land.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Mill Valley
• San Rafael
• Marin City
• Marin Headlands
• Mount Tamalpais
• Corte Madera
• Sausalito
• Richardson Bay
• Tennessee Valley
• Bon Tempe Lake
• Mount Tamalpais State Park
• Golden Gate National Recreation Area
• Creeks and rivers, including Tamalpais Creek and Corte Madera Creek
• Roads and trails, including Highway 101 and Sir Francis Drake Boulevard
• Parks, including Marin County Open Space District areas
• Landmarks, including historic buildings or sites within Mill Valley and San Rafael

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey as part of its longstanding tradition of detailed topographical mapping.
• Historical 1:24,000 topographical map of Mill Valley, San Rafael, and the surrounding Marin County area.
• Dated 1954, with a 1966 imprint.
• Created for uses including land management, scientific research, and recreation.
• Features a vibrant color palette, with green used for lower elevations and red for urbanized areas.
• Shows elevation changes through contour lines.
• Illustrates the valleys, ridges, and significant elevation changes typical of the Marin County landscape.
• Emphasizes both natural and urban features.
• Reflects a period before later urban development, land-use changes, environmental policies, and community planning reshaped the area.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed 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.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every 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.

With 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 rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.