Pictorial Map of Los Angeles to Catalina Airline Route, 1929: Western Air Express, Casino Resort, Tri-Motored Fokker, Santa Monica, Pasadena

Step into the golden age of aviation with this exquisite 1929 pictorial map, “Los Angeles to Tia Juana or Agua Caliente. Los Angeles to Catalina,” masterfully illustrated by Ruth Taylor White for Western Air Express. Created at a pivotal moment in travel history, this map not only traces the fledgling air routes connecting Southern California with the burgeoning leisure destinations of Baja California and Catalina Island, but also encapsulates the optimism and excitement of early commercial flight. White’s signature style—vivid, whimsical, and highly detailed—brings to life the landscapes, cities, and recreational hotspots that defined this era of rapid transformation.

The map’s visual storytelling is both practical and enchanting. Major air routes are elegantly charted, with clear notations of distances and flying times—such as the swift 1-hour journey from Los Angeles to Tia Juana (now Tijuana) or Agua Caliente, and the 30-minute hop to Catalina Island. Along these paths, the viewer is treated to pictorial depictions of the tri-motored Fokker aircraft soaring above rugged mountains, bustling cities, and tranquil coastlines. Each detail serves as both a navigational aid and an invitation to adventure, reflecting the era’s fascination with speed, comfort, and the newfound accessibility of distant destinations.

Beyond its practical utility, this map is a celebration of the cultural and recreational vibrancy of Southern California and northern Baja California in the late 1920s. It highlights a constellation of cities—Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and more—each rendered with iconic architecture and lively street scenes. The map’s southern reaches feature the legendary Agua Caliente resort, famed for its casino and luxurious accommodations, and Tia Juana, a destination synonymous with cross-border excitement and entertainment. Catalina Island, meanwhile, is depicted as a paradise of boating, beaches, and leisure, capturing the spirit of an era when travel itself was an event.

Ruth Taylor White’s artistry extends to the map’s lively illustrations of people at play—golfers, equestrians, beachgoers, and tourists—all set against a backdrop of farms, forests, and industrial hubs. The border between the United States and Mexico is clearly marked, underscoring the international allure of these air routes and the cosmopolitan aspirations of travelers of the time. This blend of practical cartography and imaginative illustration not only guides the traveler but also invites them to dream, making the map a cherished artifact of both aviation and graphic design history.

Historically, this map stands as a testament to the transformative power of aviation in the early 20th century. It reflects how airlines like Western Air Express marketed air travel as a luxurious, dependable, and modern experience—an ethos captured in every detail of the map’s composition. For collectors, historians, or anyone with a passion for the romance of early flight, this map offers a rare and evocative window into a world where the skies were opening up, and every journey promised discovery, comfort, and a touch of glamour.

Places on this map

• Los Angeles
• Catalina Island
• Tia Juana (Tijuana)
• Agua Caliente
• Long Beach
• San Pedro
• Santa Ana
• San Diego
• Oceanside
• Riverside
• San Bernardino
• Redlands
• Pomona
• Pasadena
• Santa Monica
• Whittier
• Fullerton
• Anaheim
• Laguna Beach
• Newport Beach

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Clearly marked air routes from Los Angeles to Tia Juana (Tijuana)/Agua Caliente and to Catalina Island
• Illustration of a tri-motored Fokker aircraft flying over the landscape
• Western Air Express arrowhead logo
• Pictorial representations of mountains, rivers, and forests
• Recreational activities depicted, such as golf, horseback riding, and boating
• Tourist attractions, including beaches and resorts
• Industrial areas and farms illustrated along the route
• Major highways and roads shown connecting cities and towns
• Flying times and distances labeled: 116 miles/1 hour to Tia Juana or Agua Caliente, 45 miles/30 minutes to Catalina
• Border between the United States and Mexico clearly indicated
• Pictorial relief showing topography and landscape features
• Labeled cities and towns along the air routes
• Illustrations of people engaging in sports and leisure activities
• Catalina Island depicted with boats and recreational scenes
• Agua Caliente resort area illustrated with casino and hotel imagery
• Los Angeles shown as a major urban center with prominent buildings
• Tia Juana (Tijuana) represented with distinctive local architecture
• Airplane flight paths visually traced across the map
• Notations of distances between key points
• Decorative border and title cartouche in period style

Historical and design context

• Created in October 1929 by Ruth Taylor White for Western Air Express, a pioneering airline
• Ruth Taylor White was known for her colorful and whimsical pictorial maps that blended artistry with practical travel information
• Designed as a promotional and informative guide for travelers, emphasizing the convenience and adventure of early air travel
• Reflects the rapid development of commercial aviation in the United States during the late 1920s
• Highlights the appeal of quick travel to vacation spots like Catalina Island and Agua Caliente, a famous resort and casino destination in Baja California
• The map’s style is pictorial and thematic, with relief depicted visually rather than topographically
• Serves as a valuable artifact for understanding the intersection of transportation, tourism, and graphic design in early 20th-century America
• Emphasizes the reliability and modernity of Western Air Express, with marketing focused on "Speed - Comfort - Dependability"
• Provides insight into the popular destinations and leisure activities of the era
• Celebrates the cultural and recreational vibrancy of Southern California and northern Baja California in the late 1920s

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.