Rare Old Map of Guerneville, California by USGS, 1955: Healdsburg, Russian River & Armstrong Redwoods
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1966 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 UK
Restored from the original 1966 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. 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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Titled “Healdsburg,” this United States Geological Survey map presents a richly detailed mid-century portrait of Sonoma County’s Russian River country. Published in...
Continue readingTitled “Healdsburg,” this United States Geological Survey map presents a richly detailed mid-century portrait of Sonoma County’s Russian River country. Published in 1966 from 1955 topographical mapping, it captures the region at a fascinating moment, before later waves of development reshaped many Northern California landscapes. Although named for Healdsburg, the map prominently includes Guerneville and the river communities, wooded canyons, ridges, and valleys that give this part of California its distinctive character. At a scale of 1:62,500, the sheet balances broad regional context with precise local detail, making visible the relationship between settlement, terrain, and watercourses. The result is both a scientific document and an evocative historical image of a landscape defined by redwoods, river bends, rural roads, and small towns.
The US Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined visual language for which it became renowned: carefully measured contours, standardized symbols, and a restrained but highly legible palette. Elevation is articulated through contour lines that trace the folds of hills and valleys, revealing how communities such as Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido, Korbel, and Stumptown occupy the more accessible corridors of the Russian River basin. Green shading marks forested and vegetated areas, emphasizing the dense natural cover that distinguishes the region. Urban and built-up areas appear in contrast to the surrounding terrain, allowing the viewer to read the map not merely as a plan of places, but as a layered study of human settlement within a complex physical landscape.
The Russian River is the great organizing presence of the map, winding through the terrain and linking many of its most recognizable communities. Its course anchors Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido, and Steelhead Beach, while nearby valleys and tributary landscapes add depth to the regional geography. Austin Creek and Dry Creek contribute further structure, their drainage patterns helping to explain the location of roads, settlements, and open lands. Jenner, near the river’s approach to the Pacific, places the mapped region within the larger coastal environment, while inland names such as Healdsburg, Geyserville, Oak Grove, and Pine Flat point toward agricultural and rural Sonoma County. Together, these places form a vivid cartographic record of a river-centered landscape.
One of the most compelling features of the map is its treatment of the forested uplands and redwood country surrounding the Russian River communities. Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve appears as a landmark of exceptional natural significance, representing the ancient redwood groves that have long shaped the identity of the Guerneville area. The green tones used by the USGS make the extent of vegetation immediately apparent, while contour lines show how forest, slope, and watershed are intertwined. Rather than presenting nature as a decorative backdrop, the map depicts it as the dominant structure of the region. Hills, creeks, reserves, and wooded tracts frame the towns, making clear how mid-century development remained closely bound to the surrounding terrain.
As a historical document, “Healdsburg” offers a valuable reference point for understanding change in Sonoma County during the twentieth century. The map records the area’s towns, river resorts, rural communities, transportation corridors, and natural reserves as they appeared in the mid-1950s, before subsequent decades altered patterns of growth, recreation, and land use. Its precision allows comparison between past and present landscapes: the spread of urban development, the persistence of forested zones, and the continuing importance of the Russian River as both geographic artery and cultural landmark. Produced by the USGS with scientific rigor, the map has a quiet elegance—an exacting topographical survey that also evokes the beauty and complexity of Northern California’s river valleys and redwood hills.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Guerneville
- Healdsburg
- Russian River
- Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
- Jenner
- Korbel
- Stumptown
- Monte Rio
- Dry Creek
- Geyserville
- Oak Grove
- Pine Flat
- Rio Nido
- Steelhead Beach
- Austin Creek
Historical context & cartographic details
- Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- Historical topographical map from 1955, published in 1966.
- The map is titled Healdsburg.
- Prominently features Guerneville, California, along with surrounding areas.
- Uses a scale of 1:62,500.
- Employs distinctive color coding to represent terrain, vegetation, and urban development.
- Green shading indicates areas of vegetation and forests.
- Contour lines depict elevation changes, hills, valleys, and urban areas.
- Provides insight into the mid-20th-century landscape of the region.
- Useful as a comparative reference for changes in urban development and natural landscapes 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.
Titled “Healdsburg,” this United States Geological Survey map presents a richly detailed mid-century portrait of Sonoma County’s Russian River country. Published in 1966 from 1955 topographical mapping, it captures the region at a fascinating moment, before later waves of development reshaped many Northern California landscapes. Although named for Healdsburg, the map prominently includes Guerneville and the river communities, wooded canyons, ridges, and valleys that give this part of California its distinctive character. At a scale of 1:62,500, the sheet balances broad regional context with precise local detail, making visible the relationship between settlement, terrain, and watercourses. The result is both a scientific document and an evocative historical image of a landscape defined by redwoods, river bends, rural roads, and small towns.
The US Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined visual language for which it became renowned: carefully measured contours, standardized symbols, and a restrained but highly legible palette. Elevation is articulated through contour lines that trace the folds of hills and valleys, revealing how communities such as Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido, Korbel, and Stumptown occupy the more accessible corridors of the Russian River basin. Green shading marks forested and vegetated areas, emphasizing the dense natural cover that distinguishes the region. Urban and built-up areas appear in contrast to the surrounding terrain, allowing the viewer to read the map not merely as a plan of places, but as a layered study of human settlement within a complex physical landscape.
The Russian River is the great organizing presence of the map, winding through the terrain and linking many of its most recognizable communities. Its course anchors Guerneville, Monte Rio, Rio Nido, and Steelhead Beach, while nearby valleys and tributary landscapes add depth to the regional geography. Austin Creek and Dry Creek contribute further structure, their drainage patterns helping to explain the location of roads, settlements, and open lands. Jenner, near the river’s approach to the Pacific, places the mapped region within the larger coastal environment, while inland names such as Healdsburg, Geyserville, Oak Grove, and Pine Flat point toward agricultural and rural Sonoma County. Together, these places form a vivid cartographic record of a river-centered landscape.
One of the most compelling features of the map is its treatment of the forested uplands and redwood country surrounding the Russian River communities. Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve appears as a landmark of exceptional natural significance, representing the ancient redwood groves that have long shaped the identity of the Guerneville area. The green tones used by the USGS make the extent of vegetation immediately apparent, while contour lines show how forest, slope, and watershed are intertwined. Rather than presenting nature as a decorative backdrop, the map depicts it as the dominant structure of the region. Hills, creeks, reserves, and wooded tracts frame the towns, making clear how mid-century development remained closely bound to the surrounding terrain.
As a historical document, “Healdsburg” offers a valuable reference point for understanding change in Sonoma County during the twentieth century. The map records the area’s towns, river resorts, rural communities, transportation corridors, and natural reserves as they appeared in the mid-1950s, before subsequent decades altered patterns of growth, recreation, and land use. Its precision allows comparison between past and present landscapes: the spread of urban development, the persistence of forested zones, and the continuing importance of the Russian River as both geographic artery and cultural landmark. Produced by the USGS with scientific rigor, the map has a quiet elegance—an exacting topographical survey that also evokes the beauty and complexity of Northern California’s river valleys and redwood hills.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Guerneville
- Healdsburg
- Russian River
- Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
- Jenner
- Korbel
- Stumptown
- Monte Rio
- Dry Creek
- Geyserville
- Oak Grove
- Pine Flat
- Rio Nido
- Steelhead Beach
- Austin Creek
Historical context & cartographic details
- Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- Historical topographical map from 1955, published in 1966.
- The map is titled Healdsburg.
- Prominently features Guerneville, California, along with surrounding areas.
- Uses a scale of 1:62,500.
- Employs distinctive color coding to represent terrain, vegetation, and urban development.
- Green shading indicates areas of vegetation and forests.
- Contour lines depict elevation changes, hills, valleys, and urban areas.
- Provides insight into the mid-20th-century landscape of the region.
- Useful as a comparative reference for changes in urban development and natural landscapes 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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