Rare Giant Street Map of San Francisco by Chevalier, 1911

The "Chevalier" Commercial, Pictorial and Tourist Map of San Francisco is a masterpiece of early 20th-century cartography, crafted by the renowned Augustus Chevalier in 1911. This map stands as a testament to the resilience and rebirth of San Francisco following the devastating 1906 earthquake. With its intricate detailing and elegant design, it captures the city’s transformation into a modern urban landscape. Chevalier’s work is celebrated for its ability to convey not only geographical information but also the spirit of renewal and progress that defined San Francisco during this pivotal era.

One of the most striking features of this map is its depiction of significant neighborhoods like Ingleside and Visitacion. These areas, meticulously plotted and surveyed, showcase the ambitious urban planning that characterized San Francisco’s recovery. Ingleside, for instance, is highlighted as a burgeoning residential area, reflecting the city’s expansion and modernization efforts. Chevalier’s map beautifully integrates these new developments, offering a glimpse into the city’s future while preserving its historical essence.

The map also prominently features iconic landmarks such as the Presidio Reservation and Union Iron Works, alongside the expansive Golden Gate Park. These landmarks are not only geographical markers but also symbols of San Francisco’s cultural and industrial heritage. The inclusion of such sites underscores the city’s diverse character, blending natural beauty with industrial prowess. Chevalier’s attention to detail in illustrating these landmarks provides a rich, immersive experience for anyone exploring the map.

Rivers and parks are elegantly woven into the map’s design, with Lake Merced and Golden Gate Park serving as focal points of natural beauty. These features highlight San Francisco’s unique geography and the importance of green spaces in urban planning. Chevalier’s depiction of these areas reflects a harmonious balance between urban development and nature, a vision that was forward-thinking for its time. The map invites viewers to appreciate the city’s landscape in its entirety, from bustling streets to serene parklands.

Augustus Chevalier, a visionary mapmaker, skillfully aligned himself with San Francisco’s power brokers, ensuring his work resonated with the city’s influential figures. His map became an influential cartographic depiction, achieving substantial commercial success. By illustrating the city’s modernization and development, Chevalier’s map not only served as a practical guide but also as a narrative of San Francisco’s resilience and innovation. This map is more than a historical document; it is a celebration of a city reborn, capturing the essence of an era defined by transformation and hope.

Streets and roads on this map

• California Street
• Divisadero Street
• Fillmore Street
• Geary Street
• Haight Street
• Howard Street
• Hyde Street
• Lombard Street
• Market Street
• Mission Street
• Montgomery Street
• Polk Street
• Powell Street
• Sacramento Street
• Sansome Street
• Taylor Street
• Van Ness Avenue

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Landmarks:
• Presidio Reservation

• Union Iron Works

• Lakes:

• Lake Merced

• Large Parks:

• Golden Gate Park

• Neighborhoods:

• Ingleside
• Visitacion

Historical and design context

• Name of the map: The "Chevalier" Commercial, Pictorial and Tourist Map of San Francisco.
• Creation date: 1911, with updates around 1912.
• Mapmaker/Publisher: Augustus Chevalier, a French native who moved to San Francisco in 1890.
• Themes: Urban renewal, modernization, and development post-1906 earthquake.
• Design/style: Monumental size, detailed urban survey, fine topographical contours, and chromolithography.
• Historical significance: Represents the rebuilding and modernization of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This is a very large map that must be ordered at a large size, so that you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). 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.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.