{"product_id":"old-map-of-south-lake-tahoe-california-by-usgs-1955-stateline-heavenly-valley-mount-tallac","title":"Old Map of South Lake Tahoe, California by USGS, 1955 – Stateline, Heavenly Valley \u0026 Mount Tallac","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitled “Bijou,” this United States Geological Survey quadrangle captures the South Lake Tahoe region from survey data collected in 1955 and published with a 1963 imprint. It presents the lakeshore at a moment when Tahoe was emerging from a high-country resort landscape into one of the American West’s defining recreation destinations. South Lake Tahoe, Al Tahoe, Bijou Park, Stateline, and the roads threading between them appear within a crisp topographic framework, while Lake Tahoe itself anchors the composition with its immense alpine presence. The result is a fascinating mid-century portrait of a place poised between forested quiet, growing tourism, and the increasingly sophisticated infrastructure that would shape its modern identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe USGS style gives the map its distinctive authority: precise contour lines, carefully lettered settlements, drainage features, roads, forest boundaries, and recreational sites combine to create a richly legible terrain. At 1:24,000 scale, the map is intimate enough to show creeks, local roads, and named parks, yet broad enough to convey the dramatic setting of Tahoe’s southern shore. Contours wrap tightly around the rising slopes, illustrating the steep transition from lakeside communities to the Sierra Nevada mountains. Bijou Creek, the Truckee River system, and the surrounding uplands are treated not as decorative details, but as measurable, interconnected features within a scientifically observed landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSouth Lake Tahoe dominates the cultural geography of the map, with nearby Stateline marking the California-Nevada boundary and hinting at the contrasting patterns of resort development that would define the area. US Route 50 and the historic Lincoln Highway are especially evocative, recalling the growth of automobile tourism and the opening of mountain landscapes to postwar travelers. The map also gestures toward the region’s recreational identity through places such as Heavenly Valley, parks along the shore, and access routes leading into the surrounding forest. These features document a Tahoe already famous for boating, skiing, mountain air, and scenic grandeur, but not yet fully transformed by later decades of expansion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe natural setting is equally compelling. Eldorado National Forest, Mount Tallac, Cave Rock, Spooner Lake, Tahoe Pines, and the larger Sierra Nevada context speak to a landscape of granite heights, forested basins, and extraordinary freshwater clarity. The topography surrounding Lake Tahoe is not merely background; it is the organizing force of the map. Mountain slopes dictate roads, watersheds, settlement edges, and recreational corridors. The contouring around ridges and valleys reveals the physical drama that made the region both challenging to develop and irresistible to visitors. In this sense, the map records the enduring tension between access and preservation that has long shaped Tahoe’s history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, “Bijou” is particularly evocative because it predates much of the intensive development associated with modern South Lake Tahoe. Since the 1955 survey, the area has seen expanding tourism infrastructure, changing land use, environmental regulation, ski industry growth, and increasing concern for Lake Tahoe’s fragile clarity and watershed. The map therefore offers more than a navigational image: it is a snapshot of an alpine community at a pivotal stage. Produced by the USGS, an agency central to the scientific mapping of the United States, it combines governmental precision with the romance of place—an elegant record of Tahoe’s mid-century landscape, poised on the edge of transformation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSouth Lake Tahoe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLake Tahoe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBijou Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStateline\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeavenly Valley\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEldorado National Forest\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTallac Historic Site\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMount Tallac\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTruckee River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBijou Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTahoe Pines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAl Tahoe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKings Beach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpooner Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCave Rock\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLincoln Highway\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUS Route 50\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSierra Nevada Mountains\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious parks and recreational areas surrounding Lake Tahoe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical 1:24,000 topographical map of South Lake Tahoe, California, and the surrounding area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSurvey data was collected in 1955, and the map was published with a 1963 imprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures a classic topographical design with contour lines showing elevation changes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClearly labels place names, physical features, roads, and surrounding landscape details.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows the mountainous terrain around Lake Tahoe through detailed elevation contours.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSouth Lake Tahoe is shown as a significant resort area known for lake recreation, skiing, water sports, and natural scenery.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSince the map was created, the South Lake Tahoe area has experienced considerable development, including changes in land use, tourism infrastructure, and environmental management.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/es\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/es\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/es\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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 \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/es\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760867938688,"sku":null,"price":366.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760867971456,"sku":null,"price":983.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868004224,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760868036992,"sku":null,"price":366.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760868069760,"sku":null,"price":983.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868102528,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760868135296,"sku":null,"price":590.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760868168064,"sku":null,"price":1311.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868200832,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760868233600,"sku":null,"price":684.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760868266368,"sku":null,"price":1498.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868299136,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x28in (50x70cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760868331904,"sku":null,"price":777.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x28in (50x70cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760868364672,"sku":null,"price":2247.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x28in (50x70cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868397440,"sku":null,"price":2528.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A2 (420x594mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760868430208,"sku":null,"price":684.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A2 (420x594mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760868462976,"sku":null,"price":1498.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A2 (420x594mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868495744,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x30in (60x75cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760868528512,"sku":null,"price":824.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x30in (60x75cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760868561280,"sku":null,"price":2247.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x30in (60x75cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868594048,"sku":null,"price":2528.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A1 (594x841mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760868626816,"sku":null,"price":824.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A1 (594x841mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760868659584,"sku":null,"price":2247.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A1 (594x841mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868692352,"sku":null,"price":2528.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x40in (70x100cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760868725120,"sku":null,"price":1077.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x40in (70x100cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760868757888,"sku":null,"price":3090.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x40in (70x100cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868790656,"sku":null,"price":3090.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"32x40in (80x100cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760868823424,"sku":null,"price":1077.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"32x40in (80x100cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760868856192,"sku":null,"price":3090.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"32x40in (80x100cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868888960,"sku":null,"price":3090.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A0 (841x1189mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760868921728,"sku":null,"price":1545.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A0 (841x1189mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760868954496,"sku":null,"price":7162.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A0 (841x1189mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760868987264,"sku":null,"price":6740.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"40x50in (100x127cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760869020032,"sku":null,"price":2341.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"40x50in (100x127cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760869052800,"sku":null,"price":8706.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"40x50in (100x127cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760869085568,"sku":null,"price":8191.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"48x60in (120x150cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760869118336,"sku":null,"price":2856.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"48x60in (120x150cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760869151104,"sku":null,"price":13106.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"48x60in (120x150cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760869183872,"sku":null,"price":12170.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"56x70in (142x178cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58760869216640,"sku":null,"price":5289.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"56x70in (142x178cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58760869249408,"sku":null,"price":18488.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"56x70in (142x178cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58760869282176,"sku":null,"price":17552.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_efd40864-37c0-44fb-840a-27289981009c.jpg?v=1787526272","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.co\/es\/products\/old-map-of-south-lake-tahoe-california-by-usgs-1955-stateline-heavenly-valley-mount-tallac","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}