Rare Old Map of Charlottesville, Virginia by USGS, 1960: University of Virginia, Monticello & Rivanna River
Restored in our London workshop from the original map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored in London • Printed and framed in the USA
My maps are rare, museum-grade, restored old maps sourced from libraries, auction houses and private collections across the globe. Full description
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
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Published in 1960 by the United States Geological Survey, “Charlottesville And Vicinity” presents a finely observed topographical portrait of one of Virginia’s...
Continue readingPublished in 1960 by the United States Geological Survey, “Charlottesville And Vicinity” presents a finely observed topographical portrait of one of Virginia’s most historically resonant landscapes. Drawn at a detailed 1:31,680 scale, the map centers on Charlottesville and extends into the surrounding countryside of Albemarle County, capturing the relationship between city, university, mountain, river, and road. Its elegant USGS symbology uses warm brown contour lines to model the rolling Piedmont terrain, with watercourses, roads, settlements, and wooded areas clearly distinguished. More than a practical survey, it is a mid-century geographic record of a region poised between Jeffersonian heritage, academic life, agricultural tradition, and expanding modern infrastructure.
Charlottesville appears here not merely as a city, but as the cultural and geographic heart of central Virginia. The University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson and central to the city’s identity, anchors the urban fabric, while nearby neighborhoods such as Oakhurst and the Barracks Road area reveal the city’s outward growth by 1960. Roads including Route 29 and Route 250 trace the corridors along which commerce, commuters, and travelers moved through the region. The map captures Charlottesville at a fascinating moment: still compact enough to be closely tied to surrounding farms and ridges, yet increasingly shaped by automobiles, suburban development, and institutional expansion.
The surrounding terrain is one of the map’s great pleasures. Contour lines sweep across the sheet in rhythmic bands, describing the hills, valleys, and ridgelines that give Albemarle County its distinctive character. Carter Mountain rises southeast of Charlottesville, a commanding feature in both the landscape and the map’s visual composition. The Rivanna River and its tributaries thread through the area, their courses linking wooded slopes, rural communities, and developing reservoirs. The South Fork Rivanna Reservoir is especially notable, marking the growing importance of managed water resources in a region balancing urban demand with rural geography. These natural forms lend the map a richly sculptural quality.
Historic landmarks deepen the significance of the landscape shown. Monticello, Jefferson’s celebrated mountaintop home, lies near the city, connecting the topography directly to early American political and architectural history. Nearby roads and contours make clear why this elevated site was so carefully chosen, commanding views across a countryside of ridges, hollows, and cultivated land. To the west, places such as Ivy and the Miller School of Albemarle evoke the county’s educational and rural traditions, while smaller communities including Hinton and other dispersed settlements suggest a pattern of farms, crossroads, and local institutions. The map quietly records the lived geography behind Virginia’s grand historical narratives.
As a USGS production, “Charlottesville And Vicinity” belongs to a distinguished cartographic tradition devoted to precision, public utility, and landscape literacy. By the mid-twentieth century, USGS topographical maps had become indispensable tools for planners, engineers, hikers, landowners, and government agencies, yet their restrained design also gives them enduring aesthetic appeal. This sheet offers an especially engaging view of Charlottesville before later decades of suburban expansion transformed much of Albemarle County. Forests, parks, rural roads, airport facilities, reservoirs, and university precincts all coexist within a carefully measured landscape. The result is a compelling historical snapshot of central Virginia, where natural form, civic growth, and national memory converge.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Charlottesville
- Albemarle County
- University of Virginia
- Rivanna River
- Oakhurst
- Barracks Road
- Carter Mountain
- Ivy
- Monticello
- Hinton
- Route 29
- Route 250
- Miller School of Albemarle
- Charlottesville Airport
- South Fork Rivanna Reservoir
- Forests and parks surrounding the area
- Various smaller neighborhoods and rural communities
Historical context & cartographic details
- Published by the US Geological Survey (USGS)
- Date of map: 1960
- Historical 1:31,680 topographical map of Charlottesville, Virginia and the surrounding area
- The USGS is known for producing accurate, detailed topographical maps for recreational, developmental, and planning uses
- Shows Charlottesville as a historically significant city and home of the University of Virginia
- Uses a rich color scheme, with shades of brown indicating elevation and topography
- Includes hills, valleys, and water bodies represented through contour lines and color gradients
- Provides insight into the geography of Charlottesville and surrounding areas as of 1960
- Offers a record of how urban development and land use in the region may have changed over time
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.
Published in 1960 by the United States Geological Survey, “Charlottesville And Vicinity” presents a finely observed topographical portrait of one of Virginia’s most historically resonant landscapes. Drawn at a detailed 1:31,680 scale, the map centers on Charlottesville and extends into the surrounding countryside of Albemarle County, capturing the relationship between city, university, mountain, river, and road. Its elegant USGS symbology uses warm brown contour lines to model the rolling Piedmont terrain, with watercourses, roads, settlements, and wooded areas clearly distinguished. More than a practical survey, it is a mid-century geographic record of a region poised between Jeffersonian heritage, academic life, agricultural tradition, and expanding modern infrastructure.
Charlottesville appears here not merely as a city, but as the cultural and geographic heart of central Virginia. The University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson and central to the city’s identity, anchors the urban fabric, while nearby neighborhoods such as Oakhurst and the Barracks Road area reveal the city’s outward growth by 1960. Roads including Route 29 and Route 250 trace the corridors along which commerce, commuters, and travelers moved through the region. The map captures Charlottesville at a fascinating moment: still compact enough to be closely tied to surrounding farms and ridges, yet increasingly shaped by automobiles, suburban development, and institutional expansion.
The surrounding terrain is one of the map’s great pleasures. Contour lines sweep across the sheet in rhythmic bands, describing the hills, valleys, and ridgelines that give Albemarle County its distinctive character. Carter Mountain rises southeast of Charlottesville, a commanding feature in both the landscape and the map’s visual composition. The Rivanna River and its tributaries thread through the area, their courses linking wooded slopes, rural communities, and developing reservoirs. The South Fork Rivanna Reservoir is especially notable, marking the growing importance of managed water resources in a region balancing urban demand with rural geography. These natural forms lend the map a richly sculptural quality.
Historic landmarks deepen the significance of the landscape shown. Monticello, Jefferson’s celebrated mountaintop home, lies near the city, connecting the topography directly to early American political and architectural history. Nearby roads and contours make clear why this elevated site was so carefully chosen, commanding views across a countryside of ridges, hollows, and cultivated land. To the west, places such as Ivy and the Miller School of Albemarle evoke the county’s educational and rural traditions, while smaller communities including Hinton and other dispersed settlements suggest a pattern of farms, crossroads, and local institutions. The map quietly records the lived geography behind Virginia’s grand historical narratives.
As a USGS production, “Charlottesville And Vicinity” belongs to a distinguished cartographic tradition devoted to precision, public utility, and landscape literacy. By the mid-twentieth century, USGS topographical maps had become indispensable tools for planners, engineers, hikers, landowners, and government agencies, yet their restrained design also gives them enduring aesthetic appeal. This sheet offers an especially engaging view of Charlottesville before later decades of suburban expansion transformed much of Albemarle County. Forests, parks, rural roads, airport facilities, reservoirs, and university precincts all coexist within a carefully measured landscape. The result is a compelling historical snapshot of central Virginia, where natural form, civic growth, and national memory converge.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Charlottesville
- Albemarle County
- University of Virginia
- Rivanna River
- Oakhurst
- Barracks Road
- Carter Mountain
- Ivy
- Monticello
- Hinton
- Route 29
- Route 250
- Miller School of Albemarle
- Charlottesville Airport
- South Fork Rivanna Reservoir
- Forests and parks surrounding the area
- Various smaller neighborhoods and rural communities
Historical context & cartographic details
- Published by the US Geological Survey (USGS)
- Date of map: 1960
- Historical 1:31,680 topographical map of Charlottesville, Virginia and the surrounding area
- The USGS is known for producing accurate, detailed topographical maps for recreational, developmental, and planning uses
- Shows Charlottesville as a historically significant city and home of the University of Virginia
- Uses a rich color scheme, with shades of brown indicating elevation and topography
- Includes hills, valleys, and water bodies represented through contour lines and color gradients
- Provides insight into the geography of Charlottesville and surrounding areas as of 1960
- Offers a record of how urban development and land use in the region may have changed over time
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.
Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.
Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.
We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.
- We can deliver directly to the recipient
- Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
- Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
- Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
- 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide
If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
We work with interior designers, hospitality businesses, property professionals, offices and corporate buyers on individual pieces and larger coordinated projects.
This map can be adapted for a particular wall, room or project, and our workshop can help coordinate the dimensions, material and framing before production.
- Exact, oversized and made-to-measure dimensions
- Custom framing, mounting and alternative materials
- Coordinated pieces for several rooms or locations
- Map personalisation, to mark important locations or add extra details
- Map and framing guidance from our workshop
- Local production for projects around the world
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
We’ve been restoring and producing maps and art prints since 1984, and we stand behind every piece.
Every order is covered by our 10-year guarantee and damage-free delivery guarantee. If your piece arrives damaged, we’ll replace or remake it free of charge. If anything else isn’t right, contact our workshop team and we’ll put it right promptly.
See our returns and refund policy for full details.
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