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Fine large vintage pictorial map of the southwestern United States, highlighting the routes of early travelers by sea and by land. The map spans from California in the west to the Mississippi River in the east, with extensive detail throughout. This map was published by the American Club of Southern California as a supplement to their issue of Touring Topics, at the time the most popular periodical for West Coast motorists.
The map includes a vast array of imagery, showing the natural wonders of the West as well as Native Americans scattered throughout. The routes of dozens of early explorers, from Coronado to Drake to Father Kino and beyond, are shown. Around the map are images of the explorers, their exploits, and their ships. Text around the sides of the map details the explorative history.
This map follows the mid-century zeitgeist of mapping the Spanish-era colonial period in the American Southwest. Comparable maps include the mapping of the old Ranchos of Los Angeles, and of course the famous Roads to Romance map that portrays the Mission-era of Southern California. This period was a time of rediscovery of California's roots, moving past the late-19th- and early-20th-century focus on the search for an Anglo-American heritage.
In all, a fine map from the golden age of American pictorial mapping.
The Automobile Club of Southern California (ACSC), founded in 1900, played a pivotal role in promoting auto touring and travel throughout California, particularly in the early 20th century. As automobiles became more popular, the club advocated for the construction of well-maintained roads and highways, working closely with state and local governments to improve infrastructure. It was instrumental in marking and mapping highways, producing detailed road guides, and installing road signs to assist motorists before the advent of standardized state signage. The ACSC also published extensive road maps and auto guidebooks, providing motorists with essential navigation tools and promoting tourism by highlighting scenic routes and destinations, helping to establish Southern California as a premier auto travel region.
![Mexico [Texas on the Eve of Independence]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/84917.jpg)
