McDowell, L. N.
1925

Rare Cyanotype Cadastral Map Beverly Hills Wilshire Boulevard California

Business and Residential Income Properties Fronting on Wilshire Boulivard [sic] in the City of Beverly Hills. Compiled by L.N. McDowell - 559087 -

DESCRIPTION: Rare, previously unknown and fascinating cyanotype strip map of Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California ca. 1925 by L. N. McDowell. This 10.5 foot-long blueprint map stretches eastward from South Lasky Drive, past Rodeo Drive and Beverly Drive, and terminates to the west at San Vincente Blvd, a total linear distance of 2.25 miles. With numerous blue over-colored 'erasures', stamped bungalow pictograms, and MS notations (1940's and 1950's) documenting usage of the map well after 1926. (Note: Contact us for complete photographs.)

The map reflects the early history of Beverly Hills. It shows Preuss Road before renaming to Robertson Boulevard in 1926 (1) and Realtor Road before renaming to Arnaz Drive (2). El Camino Drive is recorded as "Speedway Drive" with "El Camino" in MS pencil. Between 1919 and 1924 the Beverly Hills Speedway occupied a tract of land at Wilshire and Beverly that now includes the Beverly Wilshire Hotel which was built in 1928.

Date is based on an LA Times article which fixes the date that Preuss Road was renamed as 'Robertson Road':

"In 1926, the city of Los Angeles agreed to rename its section of Preuss Road as Robertson Boulevard to honor developer George Robertson. Beverly Hills also voted to rename its stretch of road after Robertson." (1)

Title: "Business and Residential Income Properties Fronting on Wilshire Boulivard [sic] in the City of Beverly Hills. Compiled by L.N. McDowell - 559087 -"

Scale 1" = 100'.

(1) https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-10-me-then10-story.html
(2) ibid. Named not in honor of Desi Arnaz, but for Don Jose de Arnaz, a landholder in 19th century Los Angeles.

CREATOR: McDowell, L. N.

PUBLICATION DATE: 1925

GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States

BODY OF WATER: N/A

CONDITION: Very good. Left side chipped and small tears with 1/2" loss of image. Small chip at upper right corner, outside the neatline. Clean. Manuscript notations.

COLORING: N/A

ENGRAVER:

SIZE: 127 " x 6 "

ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 300

PRICE: $375

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