Rare Old Map of McCall, Idaho by USGS, 1973: Payette Lake & Ponderosa State Park
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1977 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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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 from the original 1977 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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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.
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Published in 1977 from 1973 topographic work, the US Geological Survey’s “McCall” presents one of Idaho’s most beloved mountain lake districts with...
Continue readingPublished in 1977 from 1973 topographic work, the US Geological Survey’s “McCall” presents one of Idaho’s most beloved mountain lake districts with the precision and restraint that define the agency’s finest quadrangle maps. Centered on McCall and Payette Lake, it records a landscape poised between working mountain country and emerging resort destination. At 1:24,000 scale, the map gives an intimate view of roads, trails, waterways, contours, and settlement patterns, capturing the area before later decades of growth transformed McCall into a major hub for recreation. Its careful delineation of shoreline, elevation, and drainage makes it both a practical navigational document and a historical portrait of west-central Idaho in the 1970s.
The US Geological Survey brought to this map nearly a century of institutional expertise in measuring and describing the American landscape. Founded in 1879, the USGS became indispensable to exploration, resource management, infrastructure planning, and public land administration. In the “McCall” quadrangle, that scientific mission is expressed through disciplined cartography: contour lines articulate ridges and basins, hydrographic features are clearly prioritized, and roads and trails are integrated into the terrain rather than imposed upon it. The result is a map of unusual clarity, where the viewer can read the land’s structure at a glance. Its understated style reflects the USGS ideal that beauty emerges from accuracy, proportion, and the faithful organization of geographic knowledge.
Payette Lake dominates the composition, its broad mountain waters forming the scenic and cultural heart of the map. The town of McCall lies along its southern shore, positioned where access, recreation, and settlement naturally converge. Nearby Little Payette Lake and the surrounding creeks extend the hydrological story, while Fish Creek, Goose Creek, and Campbell Creek trace the smaller arteries that feed and shape the landscape. The map also situates Ponderosa State Park, a defining recreational landmark whose peninsula and forested shoreline have long drawn visitors for boating, fishing, camping, and winter sports. Together these features reveal why McCall’s setting became so coveted: alpine water, forested relief, and accessible mountain terrain gathered in close proximity.
The topographic character of the map is especially compelling. Contour lines rise and fall around Payette Lake, revealing hills, valleys, and benches that are less obvious from a conventional road map. The terrain surrounding McCall belongs to the broader Long Valley region, where mountain slopes, lake basins, and river corridors create a varied and legible landscape. The North Fork Payette River and South Fork Payette River place the area within a larger drainage system of great importance to Idaho’s geography. Trails and minor roads, some unnamed, suggest the layered use of the land by residents, foresters, anglers, hikers, and seasonal travelers navigating between water, timber, and high country.
As a document of the 1970s, “McCall” captures a moment before the town’s later rise as one of Idaho’s premier vacation and second-home destinations. Its information would have supported land management, recreation planning, development decisions, and everyday navigation at a time when McCall was expanding beyond its earlier logging and lakeside roots. The map’s value lies not only in what it shows, but in how it shows change in potential: shorelines ready for visitors, roads reaching into forested terrain, parkland formalized for public enjoyment, and a mountain community increasingly oriented toward tourism. It is a refined, data-rich view of a place whose natural setting has always been central to its identity.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- McCall
- Payette Lake
- Little Payette Lake
- Long Valley
- Ponderosa State Park
- Cascade Lake
- Fish Creek
- Goose Creek
- Campbell Creek
- North Fork Payette River
- South Fork Payette River
- Various unnamed trails and roads
Historical context & cartographic details
- Produced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:24,000 topographical map.
- Dated 1973, with a 1977 imprint.
- Published by the US Geological Survey, known for reliable scientific mapping, geological data, and topographical surveys.
- Shows an area significant for recreation, including boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
- Uses contour lines and shading to depict elevation changes and terrain features.
- Illustrates diverse topography, including hills, valleys, waterways, and lake basins.
- Reflects 1970s geographical knowledge, land-use planning, and recreational development in the McCall area.
- Documents a period before later population growth and tourism expansion further shaped McCall’s role as a destination.
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 1977 from 1973 topographic work, the US Geological Survey’s “McCall” presents one of Idaho’s most beloved mountain lake districts with the precision and restraint that define the agency’s finest quadrangle maps. Centered on McCall and Payette Lake, it records a landscape poised between working mountain country and emerging resort destination. At 1:24,000 scale, the map gives an intimate view of roads, trails, waterways, contours, and settlement patterns, capturing the area before later decades of growth transformed McCall into a major hub for recreation. Its careful delineation of shoreline, elevation, and drainage makes it both a practical navigational document and a historical portrait of west-central Idaho in the 1970s.
The US Geological Survey brought to this map nearly a century of institutional expertise in measuring and describing the American landscape. Founded in 1879, the USGS became indispensable to exploration, resource management, infrastructure planning, and public land administration. In the “McCall” quadrangle, that scientific mission is expressed through disciplined cartography: contour lines articulate ridges and basins, hydrographic features are clearly prioritized, and roads and trails are integrated into the terrain rather than imposed upon it. The result is a map of unusual clarity, where the viewer can read the land’s structure at a glance. Its understated style reflects the USGS ideal that beauty emerges from accuracy, proportion, and the faithful organization of geographic knowledge.
Payette Lake dominates the composition, its broad mountain waters forming the scenic and cultural heart of the map. The town of McCall lies along its southern shore, positioned where access, recreation, and settlement naturally converge. Nearby Little Payette Lake and the surrounding creeks extend the hydrological story, while Fish Creek, Goose Creek, and Campbell Creek trace the smaller arteries that feed and shape the landscape. The map also situates Ponderosa State Park, a defining recreational landmark whose peninsula and forested shoreline have long drawn visitors for boating, fishing, camping, and winter sports. Together these features reveal why McCall’s setting became so coveted: alpine water, forested relief, and accessible mountain terrain gathered in close proximity.
The topographic character of the map is especially compelling. Contour lines rise and fall around Payette Lake, revealing hills, valleys, and benches that are less obvious from a conventional road map. The terrain surrounding McCall belongs to the broader Long Valley region, where mountain slopes, lake basins, and river corridors create a varied and legible landscape. The North Fork Payette River and South Fork Payette River place the area within a larger drainage system of great importance to Idaho’s geography. Trails and minor roads, some unnamed, suggest the layered use of the land by residents, foresters, anglers, hikers, and seasonal travelers navigating between water, timber, and high country.
As a document of the 1970s, “McCall” captures a moment before the town’s later rise as one of Idaho’s premier vacation and second-home destinations. Its information would have supported land management, recreation planning, development decisions, and everyday navigation at a time when McCall was expanding beyond its earlier logging and lakeside roots. The map’s value lies not only in what it shows, but in how it shows change in potential: shorelines ready for visitors, roads reaching into forested terrain, parkland formalized for public enjoyment, and a mountain community increasingly oriented toward tourism. It is a refined, data-rich view of a place whose natural setting has always been central to its identity.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- McCall
- Payette Lake
- Little Payette Lake
- Long Valley
- Ponderosa State Park
- Cascade Lake
- Fish Creek
- Goose Creek
- Campbell Creek
- North Fork Payette River
- South Fork Payette River
- Various unnamed trails and roads
Historical context & cartographic details
- Produced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:24,000 topographical map.
- Dated 1973, with a 1977 imprint.
- Published by the US Geological Survey, known for reliable scientific mapping, geological data, and topographical surveys.
- Shows an area significant for recreation, including boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
- Uses contour lines and shading to depict elevation changes and terrain features.
- Illustrates diverse topography, including hills, valleys, waterways, and lake basins.
- Reflects 1970s geographical knowledge, land-use planning, and recreational development in the McCall area.
- Documents a period before later population growth and tourism expansion further shaped McCall’s role as a destination.
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.
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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