The US Geological Survey’s topographical sheet titled “Chester” presents a richly detailed portrait of northeastern California as mapped in 1956 and issued with a 1958 imprint. Centered on the town of Chester, the map captures a landscape where settlement, forest, water, and mountain relief meet in striking mid-century clarity. Chester appears as the principal community, positioned near the northern arm of Lake Almanor and connected by the regional arteries of Highway 36 and Highway 147. Around it, the map records a web of roads, rail lines, streams, springs, and scattered developed areas, revealing both the human footprint and the rugged natural setting that shaped life in Plumas County during the postwar period.

The cartographic style is classic USGS: precise, restrained, and information-rich. At a scale of 1:62,500, the sheet balances broad regional context with the detail needed to understand terrain, drainage, and access. Contour lines articulate the relief with elegant regularity, tracing the rise of ridges, the descent into valleys, and the undulating forms of the surrounding mountains. Subtle color coding distinguishes land cover, elevation, water, and built features, with greens emphasizing forested and topographic areas. This visual language gives the map both scientific authority and aesthetic depth, transforming technical survey work into a layered depiction of place, movement, and elevation.

Lake Almanor dominates the surrounding geography, its broad waters forming one of the map’s most important visual and regional anchors. Created in the early twentieth century as part of hydroelectric development on the North Fork Feather River, the lake reshaped the area’s economy, settlement patterns, and recreational identity. The map also shows North Fork Lake, Rainbow Lake, Clear Creek, and numerous unnamed streams and smaller bodies of water, all part of the complex hydrology of the northern Sierra and southern Cascades. These waterways are more than scenic features: they define valleys, support forests and meadows, guide routes, and connect the region to the wider Feather River watershed.

The presence of Lassen National Forest gives the map a strong wilderness character, with large expanses of mountainous and wooded terrain surrounding Chester and Lake Almanor. Named features such as Sugarloaf Mountain, Grasshopper Flat, Mountain Meadows, Big Springs, Pequette Spring, and Indian Falls suggest a landscape known through both formal survey and local experience. The terrain recorded here is varied and dramatic: forested slopes, open flats, spring-fed drainages, high ridges, and volcanic-influenced landforms characteristic of this transitional zone between the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range. The map evokes a region where natural resources, water, timber, and recreation were all central to the mid-century landscape.

As a historical document, “Chester” offers a compelling snapshot of northern California at a particular moment in its development. The roads, railroads, settlement clusters, and mapped natural features show how people moved through, used, and understood the region in the 1950s. Comparing such a map with the present day reveals changes in shoreline use, forest access, transportation corridors, and rural growth around Lake Almanor and Chester. Produced by the US Geological Survey, whose mapping programs were essential to infrastructure, resource management, and geographic knowledge across the United States, this sheet combines practical precision with enduring historical value, preserving the terrain and human geography of the Almanor basin in remarkable detail.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Chester, California
• Lake Almanor
• Lassen National Forest
• Indian Falls
• Big Springs
• North Fork Feather River
• North Fork Lake
• Sugarloaf Mountain
• Rainbow Lake
• Clear Creek
• Pequette Spring
• Grasshopper Flat
• Mountain Meadows
• Highway 36
• Highway 147
• Railroads and other routes depicted
• Numerous unnamed lakes and streams
• Various mountains and peaks throughout the map area

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:62,500 topographical map shows Chester, California, and the surrounding area.
• Created in 1956, with a 1958 imprint.
• Published by the US Geological Survey, known for comprehensive survey data and detailed cartographic illustrations.
• The map prominently features Chester, surrounding lakes, and mountainous terrain.
• Chester is notable for its proximity to Lake Almanor and its scenic natural beauty.
• Color coding highlights elevation and land features, with shades of green indicating different topographical details.
• Contour lines provide a clear representation of relief.
• The map reflects the varied topography of northern California, including mountains, lakes, and valleys.
• It shows both natural and developed areas.
• The map represents the region as it was in the mid-20th century, offering insight into land use, development patterns, natural features, and human settlement.

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.