Los Angeles County Street Guide & Directory 1999: The Thomas Guide

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating in detail --- sparked interest in maps.
Review: As a child growing up in Los Angeles, I knew the Thomas Brothers map to be always a household "must" and quite a special and unique institution, really. No citizen of L.A. should be without one, especially if one really wants to get to know the city. I myself spent countless hours in "exploring" in the map, and quite frankly was turned into a person who can find anything in any city and who truly became an "explorer" of sorts. That is, my adventures in the map were always followed by the real thing -- I'd hop on the good old RTD bus and head out to find it for real. I credit the Thomas Brothers for helping to make me the "can do," problem solving, adventurous person that I am today. On a recent visit to L.A., I spent a little time with the map again and noted that it now shows, with pink lines, the property lines of the old Spanish "ranchos." Wow! Absolutely fascinating! You can see how those property lines developed into main streets and city boundaries. Highly recommended! Every major city should have a Thomas Brothers, but then it might not be so special and unique!