Rare Old Map of Wrightwood, California by USGS, 1942: San Gabriel Mountains, Cajon Pass & Mount Baldy
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1942 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 1942 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.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
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Published in 1942 by the United States Geological Survey, the “San Antonio Quadrangle” captures a dramatic portion of Southern California at a...
Continue readingPublished in 1942 by the United States Geological Survey, the “San Antonio Quadrangle” captures a dramatic portion of Southern California at a revealing wartime moment, with Wrightwood, Cajon Pass, and the high country of the San Gabriel Mountains rendered in exacting topographic detail. Issued as an advance map, it reflects the USGS practice of making fresh survey information available for practical use while refinement and broader publication programs continued. At a scale of 1:62,500, the map balances regional scope with local precision, allowing the viewer to read both the sweep of mountain systems and the intricacies of canyons, ridges, roads, and settlements. Its title evokes Mount San Antonio—better known as Mount Baldy—one of the defining summits of the range.
The US Geological Survey brought to this sheet the disciplined visual language that made its maps indispensable to engineers, foresters, geologists, travelers, and public agencies. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the nation’s great scientific cartographic institution, standardizing the depiction of terrain across a vast and varied country. Here, brown contour lines describe elevation with quiet authority, while green tints indicate forested areas and vegetation, distinguishing the mountain environment from the drier desert margins beyond. The result is both practical and elegant: a map in which the steep folds of the San Gabriel Mountains, the descending washes, and the human routes threading through them are organized into a legible portrait of landscape.
Wrightwood occupies a compelling position on this map, poised between alpine recreation and the harsher geometry of the Mojave-adjacent valleys. Known today for mountain scenery, hiking, and winter sports, the community appears in relation to the Wrightwood Ski Area, Little Green Valley, Gold Hill, and the surrounding ridgelines that made the region attractive to outdoor enthusiasts. The map’s contours reveal why this area became a natural retreat from the Los Angeles basin and inland valleys: elevation, cooler air, wooded slopes, and immediate access to rugged terrain. Nearby landmarks such as Horse Thief Canyon, Smith Ranch, and Old Gold Mine preserve echoes of ranching, prospecting, and frontier movement embedded in the place-names.
To the south and east, the map gives equal attention to corridors of passage and natural barriers. Cajon Pass and Cajon Junction stand out as crucial gateways between coastal Southern California and the interior deserts, long used by Indigenous travelers, Spanish and Mexican routes, railroads, highways, and later modern traffic. Lytle Creek and the East Fork cut through steep country, their courses made vivid by the contouring of valleys and drainage lines. The San Bernardino National Forest and the slopes around Mount Baldy and Mill Creek show a landscape shaped by elevation, watershed, fire, and access. The map thus records not merely locations, but the physical logic governing movement through Southern California’s mountains.
Viewed from the perspective of the twenty-first century, the 1942 “San Antonio Quadrangle” is especially evocative for what it predates. Apple Valley, Victor Valley, Phelan, Hodge, and the lands around Lake View Point would see changing patterns of settlement, transportation, recreation, and conservation in the decades after World War II. Urban expansion, highway improvement, ski development, forest management, and environmental protection have all altered the region’s relationship to its terrain. Yet the underlying geography remains powerfully present: mountains rising sharply from arid basins, canyons guiding water and travel, passes linking regions, and high ridges framing human ambition. This map preserves that foundational landscape with scientific clarity and historical poise.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Wrightwood
- San Gabriel Mountains
- San Bernardino National Forest
- Gold Hill
- Apple Valley
- Victor Valley
- Cajon Pass
- Smith Ranch
- East Fork
- Lytle Creek
- Horse Thief Canyon
- Old Gold Mine
- Mount Baldy
- Mill Creek
- Wrightwood Ski Area
- Cajon Junction
- Little Green Valley
- Phelan
- Hodge
- Lake View Point
Historical context & cartographic details
- Published by the US Geological Survey (USGS), a U.S. federal scientific agency known for mapping, surveying, and geographic research.
- Created in 1942, with a 1942 imprint.
- Historical 1:62,500 topographical map of Wrightwood, California, and the surrounding region.
- Marked as an advance map.
- Uses color to represent topographic features, including brown and green shades for elevation changes and vegetation.
- Shows elevation through contour lines and shading, helping depict mountains, valleys, and the physical geography of the area.
- Wrightwood is known for scenic mountain views and outdoor recreation, especially hiking and skiing in the San Gabriel Mountains.
- Since 1942, the region has experienced changes in land use, urban development, and environmental conservation.
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 1942 by the United States Geological Survey, the “San Antonio Quadrangle” captures a dramatic portion of Southern California at a revealing wartime moment, with Wrightwood, Cajon Pass, and the high country of the San Gabriel Mountains rendered in exacting topographic detail. Issued as an advance map, it reflects the USGS practice of making fresh survey information available for practical use while refinement and broader publication programs continued. At a scale of 1:62,500, the map balances regional scope with local precision, allowing the viewer to read both the sweep of mountain systems and the intricacies of canyons, ridges, roads, and settlements. Its title evokes Mount San Antonio—better known as Mount Baldy—one of the defining summits of the range.
The US Geological Survey brought to this sheet the disciplined visual language that made its maps indispensable to engineers, foresters, geologists, travelers, and public agencies. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the nation’s great scientific cartographic institution, standardizing the depiction of terrain across a vast and varied country. Here, brown contour lines describe elevation with quiet authority, while green tints indicate forested areas and vegetation, distinguishing the mountain environment from the drier desert margins beyond. The result is both practical and elegant: a map in which the steep folds of the San Gabriel Mountains, the descending washes, and the human routes threading through them are organized into a legible portrait of landscape.
Wrightwood occupies a compelling position on this map, poised between alpine recreation and the harsher geometry of the Mojave-adjacent valleys. Known today for mountain scenery, hiking, and winter sports, the community appears in relation to the Wrightwood Ski Area, Little Green Valley, Gold Hill, and the surrounding ridgelines that made the region attractive to outdoor enthusiasts. The map’s contours reveal why this area became a natural retreat from the Los Angeles basin and inland valleys: elevation, cooler air, wooded slopes, and immediate access to rugged terrain. Nearby landmarks such as Horse Thief Canyon, Smith Ranch, and Old Gold Mine preserve echoes of ranching, prospecting, and frontier movement embedded in the place-names.
To the south and east, the map gives equal attention to corridors of passage and natural barriers. Cajon Pass and Cajon Junction stand out as crucial gateways between coastal Southern California and the interior deserts, long used by Indigenous travelers, Spanish and Mexican routes, railroads, highways, and later modern traffic. Lytle Creek and the East Fork cut through steep country, their courses made vivid by the contouring of valleys and drainage lines. The San Bernardino National Forest and the slopes around Mount Baldy and Mill Creek show a landscape shaped by elevation, watershed, fire, and access. The map thus records not merely locations, but the physical logic governing movement through Southern California’s mountains.
Viewed from the perspective of the twenty-first century, the 1942 “San Antonio Quadrangle” is especially evocative for what it predates. Apple Valley, Victor Valley, Phelan, Hodge, and the lands around Lake View Point would see changing patterns of settlement, transportation, recreation, and conservation in the decades after World War II. Urban expansion, highway improvement, ski development, forest management, and environmental protection have all altered the region’s relationship to its terrain. Yet the underlying geography remains powerfully present: mountains rising sharply from arid basins, canyons guiding water and travel, passes linking regions, and high ridges framing human ambition. This map preserves that foundational landscape with scientific clarity and historical poise.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Wrightwood
- San Gabriel Mountains
- San Bernardino National Forest
- Gold Hill
- Apple Valley
- Victor Valley
- Cajon Pass
- Smith Ranch
- East Fork
- Lytle Creek
- Horse Thief Canyon
- Old Gold Mine
- Mount Baldy
- Mill Creek
- Wrightwood Ski Area
- Cajon Junction
- Little Green Valley
- Phelan
- Hodge
- Lake View Point
Historical context & cartographic details
- Published by the US Geological Survey (USGS), a U.S. federal scientific agency known for mapping, surveying, and geographic research.
- Created in 1942, with a 1942 imprint.
- Historical 1:62,500 topographical map of Wrightwood, California, and the surrounding region.
- Marked as an advance map.
- Uses color to represent topographic features, including brown and green shades for elevation changes and vegetation.
- Shows elevation through contour lines and shading, helping depict mountains, valleys, and the physical geography of the area.
- Wrightwood is known for scenic mountain views and outdoor recreation, especially hiking and skiing in the San Gabriel Mountains.
- Since 1942, the region has experienced changes in land use, urban development, and environmental conservation.
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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