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Description

One of the earliest obtainable maps of Las Vegas, Nevada,

Incorporated in 1911, Las Vegas is the fastest growing American city founded in the 20th Century. The present map show the new Airport and lands owned by Boulder Airways, suggesting the map was printed sometime between 1920 (when Randall Henderson landed the first airplane in Las Vegas) and 1926, when Western Air Express conducted the first commercial air service. We were not able to locate any sign of a Golf Course in Las Vegas (first golf course built in 1927).

Thomas Bros. Maps was founded in 1915 in Oakland, California, by cartographer George Coupland Thomas and his two brothers, who developed a distinctive page-by-page grid system of mapping cities that eliminated the need for clumsy folding maps. The maps were bound in a convenient book format that became known as the "Thomas Guide." Since then, Thomas Guides have become the standard street reference for drivers in many West Coast communities as well as for police and fire departments, utilities, realtors, and local governments.

Thomas Brothers Biography

Thomas Brothers and Their Legacy in Mapping

The Thomas Brothers, pioneering cartographers of the 20th century, carved a unique niche in the world of mapmaking with their meticulous street atlases that have since become indispensable resources for countless Americans. The trio's journey began in the bustling hub of Oakland, California, in 1915, where George Coupland Thomas and his two brothers established Thomas Bros. Maps.

Initially, their publications included detailed block maps, birds-eye views of communities, and what one might consider generalized tourist maps. Their emphasis on accuracy, granularity, and user-friendliness quickly set them apart in the growing map industry. By the late 1940s, the brothers expanded their offerings, introducing street guides initially available as pocket-sized booklets. These guides encapsulated regions across several counties in California and even extended to Washington, offering detailed street views and points of interest.

A significant historical footnote is the company's involvement in producing redlining maps for several major Californian cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento for the US government-sponsored Home Owners' Loan Corporation in the 1930s. These maps, controversial in today's context, played a role in shaping urban development and housing policies of the time.

In 1940, seeking larger opportunities and driven by the company's burgeoning success, the Thomas Brothers relocated their headquarters to Los Angeles. The move coincided with the addition of pocket-sized guidebooks dedicated to California and San Francisco, complete with fold-out maps, further solidifying their dominance in the local market.

Following the death of George Coupland Thomas in 1955, the company witnessed a transition in leadership. Warren B. Wilson, the family lawyer, acquired the business. Under his guidance, Thomas Bros. Maps continued to flourish, adapting to the changing needs of the market and expanding its geographic footprint.

By the onset of the California home development boom in the 1970s, the company's reputation was unparalleled. The transition to Irvine, California, in 1980 under Wilson's directive marked a new era, with the company setting its sights on digital innovations and new markets.