{"product_id":"old-map-of-los-gatos-california-by-usgs-1940-monte-sereno-santa-clara-valley-alum-rock-park","title":"Old Map of Los Gatos, California by USGS, 1940 – Monte Sereno, Santa Clara Valley \u0026 Alum Rock Park","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1964 from survey data gathered in 1940, “Los Gatos” is a richly informative US Geological Survey topographical map produced in cooperation with the War Department, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army. It captures a compelling moment in the history of the Santa Clara Valley, when Los Gatos and neighboring Monte Sereno still stood in close conversation with orchards, wooded slopes, rural roads, and rugged uplands. The map’s 1:62,500 scale gives both breadth and precision, presenting the town not as an isolated settlement but as part of a dynamic landscape of valleys, creeks, ridgelines, and transportation corridors. For collectors, it offers an evocative view of the South Bay before the full force of postwar suburban expansion transformed the region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe design is classic mid-century American topography: contour lines articulate the rise and fall of the land, while carefully chosen green and brown tones distinguish wooded areas, hills, and more open terrain. These visual conventions give the map a sculptural quality, allowing the viewer to read elevation almost physically across the sheet. The hills surrounding Los Gatos appear not as background scenery, but as defining structures of the region—shaping travel, settlement, drainage, and development. Valleys open toward the Santa Clara Valley, while steeper slopes lead the eye toward the mountainous country beyond. The result is both a practical survey document and an elegant portrait of landform, revealing the geographical forces that have long framed life in this part of California.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLos Gatos itself occupies a historically important position at the meeting point of valley and mountain. In the early twentieth century, the town served as a gateway between the agricultural richness of the Santa Clara Valley and the wooded ridges of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Monte Sereno, shown nearby, appears within this same transitional zone, where residential enclaves, rural lanes, and natural contours overlap. The map’s roads and routes suggest patterns of movement before the later intensification of highways and suburban networks. For those interested in urban history, it provides a valuable baseline: a way to compare the quieter landscape recorded from 1940 surveys with the increasingly developed Silicon Valley corridor that would emerge in the decades after publication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWaterways are among the map’s most revealing features. Branciforte Creek, Coyote Creek, Wrights Creek, and Uvas Creek help define the terrain, tracing natural corridors through hills and valleys. Their presence speaks to the hydrology of the region, where seasonal flows, drainage basins, and canyon routes shaped both ecology and human use. Creeks were not merely geographic details; they influenced road placement, settlement patterns, agriculture, and access into the uplands. The map also situates Los Gatos within a broader natural setting that includes places such as El Sereno, San Francisco Mountain, and the wider hill country stretching toward Alum Rock Park. Together, these features evoke a landscape still strongly governed by topography and water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a collaboration between the USGS and the Army Corps of Engineers, this map reflects the strategic and scientific ambitions of American cartography in the mid-twentieth century. Such maps were made for accuracy, utility, and national infrastructure, yet they often possess an understated beauty born from disciplined observation. “Los Gatos” is especially compelling because it records a region on the cusp of profound change: still rural in many of its surrounding areas, yet poised near one of the most consequential zones of modern technological growth. Its contour lines, creek names, roads, hills, and town labels preserve a layered historical geography, offering today’s viewer a refined and highly detailed window into the Los Gatos landscape as it stood before the modern South Bay fully took shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLos Gatos\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonte Sereno\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSanta Clara Valley\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSan Francisco Mountain\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlum Rock Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEl Sereno\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBranciforte Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoyote Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWrights Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUvas Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious roadways, including rural routes and highways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNearby hills and valleys shown with contour lines for elevation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePotential trails and streams indicated on the map\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the War Department, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBased on survey data from 1940 and published in 1964\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical 1:62,500 topographical map of the surrounding California landscape\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed topographical representation with contour lines indicating elevation changes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreen and brown coloring used to show terrain types such as wooded areas, hills, and flatter land\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDepicts rolling hills, valleys, natural waterways, and significant changes in elevation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflects the landscape during the early 20th century, supporting comparisons of urban development and natural change over time\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=\"\/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=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) 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=\"\/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=\"\/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":68139136156039,"sku":null,"price":42.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139136188807,"sku":null,"price":115.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139136221575,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139136254343,"sku":null,"price":42.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139136287111,"sku":null,"price":115.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139136319879,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139136352647,"sku":null,"price":69.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139136385415,"sku":null,"price":154.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139136418183,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139136450951,"sku":null,"price":80.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139136483719,"sku":null,"price":176.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139136516487,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A2 (420x594mm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139136549255,"sku":null,"price":80.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A2 (420x594mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139136582023,"sku":null,"price":176.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A2 (420x594mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139136614791,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x28in (50x70cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139136647559,"sku":null,"price":91.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x28in (50x70cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139136680327,"sku":null,"price":264.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"20x28in (50x70cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139136713095,"sku":null,"price":297.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139136745863,"sku":null,"price":91.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139136778631,"sku":null,"price":264.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"24x36in (60x90cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139136811399,"sku":null,"price":297.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A1 (594x841mm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139136844167,"sku":null,"price":91.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A1 (594x841mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139136876935,"sku":null,"price":264.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A1 (594x841mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139136909703,"sku":null,"price":297.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x40in (70x100cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139136942471,"sku":null,"price":126.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x40in (70x100cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139136975239,"sku":null,"price":363.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"28x40in (70x100cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139137008007,"sku":null,"price":363.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"30x40in (75x100cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139137040775,"sku":null,"price":126.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"30x40in (75x100cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139137073543,"sku":null,"price":363.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"30x40in (75x100cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139137106311,"sku":null,"price":363.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A0 (841x1189mm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139137139079,"sku":null,"price":181.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A0 (841x1189mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139137171847,"sku":null,"price":841.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A0 (841x1189mm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139137204615,"sku":null,"price":791.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"37x50in (94x127cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139137237383,"sku":null,"price":253.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"37x50in (94x127cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139137270151,"sku":null,"price":1022.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"37x50in (94x127cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139137302919,"sku":null,"price":962.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"45x60in (114x150cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139137335687,"sku":null,"price":335.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"45x60in (114x150cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139137368455,"sku":null,"price":1539.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"45x60in (114x150cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139137401223,"sku":null,"price":1429.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"52x70in (132x178cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139137433991,"sku":null,"price":566.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"52x70in (132x178cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139137466759,"sku":null,"price":2062.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"52x70in (132x178cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139137499527,"sku":null,"price":1924.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_37a8f684-a584-4210-97d9-85a82df824b6.jpg?v=1794001486","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.eu\/products\/old-map-of-los-gatos-california-by-usgs-1940-monte-sereno-santa-clara-valley-alum-rock-park","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}