The Picto-Map of Arizona, created in 1935 by Reginald W. Manning, is a jubilant fusion of topography, storytelling, and sly wit. Manning stages the state as a theatrical panorama, using pen-and-ink linework enriched with hand coloring and a sweeping horizon effect to draw the eye from sunlit desert floors to purpled mountain distances. The title cartouche gleams with a radiant sun motif, setting the tone for a work that embraces Arizona’s reputation as a “Land of Enchantment,” a phrase with literary roots in early Southwestern travel writing. Folded into this exuberant vision is Manning’s crisp pictorial style—hallmark of the Golden Age of American cartography—later celebrated in his Cartoon Guide of Arizona (1938). What emerges is both guide and portrait: Arizona as seen through a master humorist’s exacting, affectionate gaze.

Manning orchestrates the state’s physical drama with delightful specificity. The Grand Canyon is singled out as “the greatest natural wonder,” its chasms rendered with a theatrical drop to capture awe as much as elevation. Northward sweep finds the Painted Desert glowing in banded color, while Canyon de Chelly rises in sculpted forms that hint at sandstone cathedrals. The Petrified Forest punctuates the plateau with gemlike trunks, and saguaro-studded country around Tucson assumes a heraldic dignity. The San Francisco Peaks loft above Flagstaff; the Mogollon Rim steps the state from mountain forest to desert plain. Rivers animate these scenes—the Colorado carving the western boundary, the Salt and Gila looping through the lowlands—each worked into a tapestry where terrain, climate, and light feel palpably alive.

Culture and history are woven with equal finesse, signposted by captions that wink at frontier legends while respecting deep Indigenous presence. Boulder Dam, a marvel of the age, draws a burst of commentary at Arizona’s western edge, its modern might contrasted with ancient canyons upstream. Manning’s panels nod to ranching ranges, prospectors’ haunts, trading posts, and the resilient communities of Navajo and Hopi country—rendered with emblematic figures rather than caricature. Trails of cattle and plumes from copper country telegraph economies that powered the 1930s Southwest. Throughout, playful vignettes—coyotes loping under a crescent moon, roadrunners flashing across alkali flats, bighorn poised on improbable ledges—lend motion, humor, and affection to a landscape that never stands still.

Roads ribbon across the map in lively strokes, transforming distance into invitation. From Phoenix—already a bustling desert metropolis—routes skip toward Scottsdale and Tempe, sweep east past Mesa and Chandler, and curl through farm towns that green the Salt River Valley. Tucson anchors the south, set among sentinel saguaros, while Yuma beckons on the Colorado’s broad bend. Flagstaff sits high and cool beneath the Peaks, a waystation along the great transcontinental artery of U.S. 66 linking the Painted Desert to California. These creative roadways don’t merely connect; they narrate—staging scenic progressions from canyon rim to cotton field, from volcanic cinder cones to orchard rows—so that travel itself becomes part of Manning’s joyous storyline.

Reginald W. Manning—born in Kansas City in 1905—brought a Pulitzer Prize–winning eye to American life, producing more than 15,000 editorial cartoons over a storied career. Arizona became his lifelong muse, and this map distills that devotion into a single, hand-drawn opus that bridges fine art and popular cartography. Its wit is informed rather than flippant; its observation is precise without pedantry. When he later folded the design into his Cartoon Guide of Arizona (1938), Manning affirmed what this 1935 original already proved: that the state’s character could be mapped as vividly as its rivers and roads. The result is a rare artifact of American illustration—equal parts guide, satire, and love letter—capturing Arizona at the very moment it stepped from frontier memory into modern myth.

Cities and towns on this map

• Phoenix
• Tucson
• Mesa
• Chandler
• Gilbert
• Glendale
• Scottsdale
• Tempe
• Peoria
• Yuma
• Flagstaff

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Presence of the Grand Canyon, depicted as “the greatest natural wonder.”
• Boulder Dam is highlighted with specific text comments.
• Various national parks such as Petrified Forest National Park and Saguaro National Park.
• Symbolic representation of local fauna including various animals.
• Illustrations of significant landmarks, such as the Painted Desert and Canyon de Chelly.
• Decorative elements surrounding the Arizona title with a sun motif.
• Notes indicating various cultural references and historic points throughout Arizona.
• Roadways marked creatively to connect different points of interest.

Historical and design context

• Year of Creation: 1935.
• Published in: Initially registered as The Picto-Map of Arizona; included in the 1938 edition of Reg Manning's Cartoon Guide of Arizona.
• Artistic Features: Original pen and ink artwork with hand coloring; topographical elements shown with a horizon effect.
• Design and Style: Distinctive pictorial representation typical of the Golden Age of American cartography; handmade original contrasting with later printed editions.
• Themes and Topics: Diverse landscape (natural geography, flora, fauna); humor highlighting Native American and frontier heritage; “Land of Enchantment” notion from Lilian Whiting’s 1906 Southwest travel guide.
• Significance of the Mapmaker: Reg Manning (born 1905), notable illustrator and cartoonist who produced over 15,000 editorial cartoons and received the Pulitzer Prize in 1951; his work reflects deep appreciation for Arizona’s culture and landscape.
• Historical Significance: A unique artifact of American illustration and cartography, capturing the essence of 1930s Arizona with a blend of humor and artistry.

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 90in (230cm). 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.