Includes bibliographical references (pages 250-251) and index

The first of the Californians -- Notions of a western shore -- Of gold and galleons -- The first New England -- On the right hand of the Indies -- Spain moves north -- Exploring an unknown interior -- Russian California -- Mexican California -- West to California -- American California -- The gold rush -- The state of California -- The United States coast survey -- Searching for a railroad path -- Building the transcontinental railroad -- The southern Pacific -- A geological survey -- Water, wine, and oranges -- The rise of urban California: 1. Los Angeles -- 2. The San Francisco Bay area -- 3. San Diego -- 4. Sacramento -- 5. Other cities -- Rails for growth -- The burning of San Francisco -- Wildness for the people -- Bringing water to the cities -- From bike paths to freeways -- Power for a new economy -- Of airports and airlines -- Boom and bust -- California at war -- Moving and shaking

"Using Nearly Five Hundred historical maps and many other illustrations - from rough sketches drawn in the field to commercial maps to beautifully rendered works of art - this lavishly illustrated volume is the first to tell the story of California's past from a unique visual perspective. Covering five hundred years of history, it offers a compelling and informative look at the transformation of the state from the point of European contact through the Cold Rush and up to the present. The maps are accompanied by a concise, engaging narrative and by extended captions that elucidate the stories and personalities behind the maps' creation. At once a valuable reference and an exhilarating adventure through history, the Historical Atlas of California, featuring many rare and unusual maps."--Jacket

256 pages : 33 cm

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