The Panorama of Today in Northern California

Decorative promotional map of Northern California published for the state’s centennial.

This gorgeous abstract pictorial map of northern California depicts the area roughly from Monterrey to Santa Rosa, and inland as far as Lake Tahoe. The region’s abundant natural resources, manufacturing, metropolitan areas and tourist attractions are the clear focus and include beautiful illustrations of wine making in Napa Valley, skiing in Tahoe, and farming in the Central Valley.

The artist, Millard Sheets, was a native of California and knew his home territory, producing a number of works depicting the state in a variety of mediums. He is also known for “Touchdown Jesus” at the University of Notre Dame. The publisher of the map, American Trust Company, was formed in 1852 as part of the gold rush boom and merged with Wells Fargo in 1960. A beautiful mid-century representation of California’s most bountiful region, which would likely include a great deal more technological imagery if it were to be recreated today.