Los Angeles in Maps Hardcover – October 19, 2010

I first heard about this book from the LA Times and it sounded right up my street - it's about my favourite town, and I love maps. Double bingo!Written by LA Public Library archivist Glen Creason, who clearly has access to some wonderful resources, this book is informative and entertaining in equal measure. I've heard people say that LA has no history, a rather arrogant assertion that has no basis in fact. LA's history is right there if you've got the eyes to see it, written into the landscape, as this book shows in great detail.The maps reproduced here cover most of the recorded history of the region, and show the various geographical features of the LA basin and the surrounding area, from topographical maps to the early pueblo layout to the locations of the oil fields. The quality of printing is very good, with the maps rendered in sharp detail on very good quality paper, with each map featuring at least a page of accompanying text putting the map in context and describing its genesis.It's not without its flaws; the proof reader must have been asleep, as there are quite a few errors - on the very first map page Harriman's name gets transposed to "Harrington" by the end of the page, and later on we're told that in 1928 Los Angeles harbor handled "26.5 tons" of cargo, "a record which stood for decades". 26.5 tons! That's out by a factor of a million. Also although the printing is very sharp, some of the maps are printed across the folio, so it's sometimes hard to make out detail across the page crease. I'd also liked to have seen more maps of the fault lines across the county; it is after all a major earthquake zone and fault lines are a very important feature of the region.Still, these are minor quibbles. There's much to reward the interested viewer here, and it's the type of book that I'll be dipping into many times over the years. Thank you Mr. Creason for this treasure trove!Interested readers might like to see the following video, an interview with the author about the book:[...]

The description on each map is clearly written and informative. The time period covered is from very early California to modern Los Angeles. The book is a detailed picture of the development of southern California in maps.

This is a fascinating book if you live in, or are familiar with Los Angeles. So why did I give it only three stars? Another reviewer said it before. This book takes large maps and shrinks them down to small maps. It works with some, but fails with others. We keep a strong magnifying glass next to the book to browse, but even with that, some maps are too small to make sense of. The shrinking has effected the resolution to the point that some of the maps, even with magnification, are undecipherable. Don't get me wrong, what's great about this book is truly wonderful, however, I think that if I had had the opportunity to see the book in person before deciding to buy it, I may well have passed on it.

Would have given this book 5 and a half stars but it wasn't bigger than my coffee table. Loved the intro. Loved the commentary on all of the maps. Loved the maps. Well researched and well written. Anyone with any interest in LA history needs to own this book. It is essential. The author is clearly a great researcher, an expert on maps, and a lover of Los Angeles history. If you are into the history of one of the United State's most mysterious cities, you must own this book.

This book has all kinds of really cool maps and shows the incredible history of Los Angeles through a number of historical, detailed, not so detailed and colorful maps. It is well-written and had me gazing at it for hours. This is as good as it gets if you want to know how the great city of Los Angeles was planned and how it evolved to the city it is today. I am impressed and I think you will be too. It is well worth the money!

I've now meandered the avenues of "Los Angeles in Maps," breathed breezes on its palm-bordered lanes, plan to revisit soon.As Vinny would say, "It's a dandy."The maps capture the tapestry of LA history in ways no other medium could manage, but it's Glen Creason's masterful synthesis of the quilt pieces that renders this book a concerto of what dazzles and intrigues us about this city.Mr. Creason, you have such a strong, sure voice. Thank you for singing so splendidly of our hometown's eras and neighborhoods.

This beautiful book is the perfect gift for the cartographer, map or Los Angeles enthusiast in your life! Top-notch bookmaking (highest quality paper, embossed cover) highlights the art of the maps - the maps themselves offer a historical journey through the development of Los Angeles and surrounding environs. I thought the tome expensive until I received it - it is well worth the price and I couldn't be more pleased with such a unique offering! BRAVO to Mr. Creason on his research and writing...

beautiful book. extremely well curated. pairs well with 'lost los angeles.' a must have for anyone interested in the history of LA and for anyone who has ever wondered 'what the hell' with some of the strange things our streets do.

This book contains 70 different maps, split into different categories (Early Growth, Social Life, Hollywood, etc) that showcase all the different places and aspects that make up Los Angeles. Equally as interesting as the maps themselves is the commentary -- each map is accompanied by a few paragraphs that explain not only the history and significance of the maps, but give some great insight into the Los Angeles of the time.However, all of these maps are fairly large documents -- most are well over 20" x 12", with some going up to 72" x 38". Yet they receive only a single page or a partial double spread, which can make fully appreciating the details a bit difficult. The Los Angeles 1909 map is definitely detailed and lists dozens of spots of interest, but they are illegible even with a magnifying glass.I'd absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in Los Angeles. The maps are beautiful and interesting, as the accompanying text is engaging as well.