Originally titled “Alhambra,” this 1926 United States Geological Survey topographical map captures a richly layered portion of Los Angeles County at the intimate scale of 1:24,000. Centered on Alhambra and its neighboring communities, it records a landscape poised between citrus-era suburbia and the rapidly expanding metropolitan ambitions of Southern California. Belvedere, South Pasadena, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, San Marino, Pasadena, Montebello, and the eastern reaches of Los Angeles appear within a finely measured terrain of roads, railways, settlements, valleys, and rising ground. The map is especially evocative as a pre-modern development snapshot, preserving the structure of neighborhoods and transportation corridors before later freeway construction and postwar suburban growth transformed the region.

Produced by the US Geological Survey, the map reflects the precision and public purpose that made the agency indispensable after its founding in 1879. USGS topographic mapping was central to land management, infrastructure planning, resource study, and civic expansion, and this sheet exemplifies that mission with disciplined clarity. Rather than offering a decorative fantasy of place, it presents Southern California as a measured, knowable terrain: gradients plotted, routes organized, communities named, and elevation changes rendered with scientific care. Yet the result is visually compelling in its own right. The balance of empirical information and elegant cartographic design gives the map a quiet authority, making it both a technical document and a historical portrait of a region in motion.

The terrain is articulated through extensive contour lines, a defining feature of USGS craftsmanship from this period. These sinuous brown and reddish elevation markings allow the viewer to read the land almost three-dimensionally, tracing subtle rises, valley floors, ridgelines, and the transitional slopes that frame the San Gabriel Valley and the Los Angeles Basin. At 1:24,000, the map offers a particularly detailed view of landforms and human infrastructure, revealing how roads and railways responded to the natural shape of the ground. The combination of contour work and relief coloring creates an immediate sense of depth, transforming what might otherwise be a dense urban sheet into a nuanced study of geology, settlement, and movement.

The communities shown were deeply shaped by early twentieth-century suburban development. Alhambra, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, and San Marino occupied a pivotal position east of Los Angeles, connected by rail and road to the growing city while retaining distinctive residential and civic identities. Pasadena and South Pasadena, already associated with refined suburban living and cultural prestige, anchor the northern portion of the landscape. Belvedere, now closely associated with East Los Angeles, appears at a moment when the area was still evolving within the expanding urban fabric. The map records this transitional geography: pockets of settlement, transportation lines, open spaces, and contours of undeveloped land that would later be absorbed into a far denser metropolitan environment.

As a historical artifact, “Alhambra” is compelling because it captures Southern California before many of the forces that define it today had fully arrived. The later imprint of freeways, intensified subdivision, commercial corridors, and postwar population growth is absent, allowing the viewer to study an earlier framework of towns, rail connections, parks, roads, and landforms. The map’s beauty lies in this tension between permanence and change: the hills and valleys remain legible, while the human geography has been dramatically rewritten. For collectors drawn to Los Angeles history, urban development, or the artistry of scientific mapping, this 1926 USGS sheet offers a finely detailed window into a region on the threshold of transformation.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Alhambra
• Belvedere
• South Pasadena
• Monterey Park
• San Gabriel
• San Marino
• Pasadena
• Los Angeles
• Montebello
• Valleys
• Roads and railways, not explicitly named
• Parks, not explicitly named

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:24,000 topographical map shows Belvedere, California and the surrounding area.
• The map is dated 1926.
• The USGS has been a vital source for accurate geological and topographical data in the United States since its establishment in 1879.
• Belvedere reflects early 20th-century suburban development in California.
• The map features contour lines and shaded relief to depict elevation changes and terrain.
• Browns and reds are used for land elevation gradients, enhancing topographical understanding.
• The map shows varying elevations and relief features typical of the area at a detailed 1:24,000 scale.
• The area has undergone considerable urban development since 1926, making the map a valuable snapshot of land use before many modern developments.
• The extensive contour work showcases the craftsmanship typical of USGS maps from this era.

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.