Valley of the Sun A Pictorial Guide of Phoenix and Central Arizona

Capturing the optimism of the American Southwest in the years following World War II.

Drawn by George M. Avey and commissioned by the Valley National Bank, this 1947 pictorial guide is a vibrant celebration of the postwar ‘sunshine boom’ in Phoenix and Central Arizona. Utilizing a whimsical, cartoonish aesthetic typical of the mid-century pictorial genre, the map functions as both a promotional advertisement and a cultural time capsule of a region on the cusp of massive urban expansion. Accompanying elements mirror this upbeat tone, including a state map that pinpoints the various branches of the Valley National Bank.

However, underlying the vibrancy is a darker current reflecting the tenets of Manifest Destiny and the minimization of the region’s original inhabitants. Native Americans are stereotypically depicted – notably with heads turned downward; pensively weaving baskets, charming snakes, or interacting with cowboys. This theme is crystallized on the front cover, which depicts a gleaming white city literally rising from the ashes of a burning pueblo -a stark literalization of the Phoenix origin myth.

The verso of the sheet offers a straightforward street plan of Phoenix that reflects the city’s expansion during WWII and the years immediately following. Again, Valley National Bank offices are noted, along with major transportation routes, important industries, parks, public buildings, and the city limits. Features of interest include Sky Harbor Airport, the Municipal Stadium, the Arizona State Hospital for the Insane, and the United States Indian School. Scattered notes in pencil reflect prior use.