The 70 maps include in this book document the cultural, social, and geographic history of this major American city. Subjects touched on include: the discovery of California, the establishment of the missions, the eventual discovery of the site of Los Angeles, the establishment of the rancho system in Southern California, early Indian villages, early survey maps determining boundaries and land grants, early sewer and water maps determining the avenues of the city's very lifeblood, infrastructure, the rise of the movie industry, the streetcar system, earthquakes, Hollywood, emergence of the maps of the stars' homes, etc. Chronological in format, the book provides an encapsulated visual and verbal history of the city.