Get Your Map On

The USGS has a site where you can download historical topographic maps. The maps are in high resolution and cover the United States.

For more than 125 years, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps have accurately portrayed the complex geography of the Nation. The USGS is the largest producer of printed topographic maps, and, prior to 2009, USGS topographic maps were created using traditional cartographic methods and printed using the lithographic printing process.

Because historical maps are stored in a limited number of collections and are not readily available, the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) is converting these historical printed topographic quadrangles to an electronic format (GeoPDF). This scanning and processing effort serves the dual purpose of creating a master catalog and digital archive copies of the irreplaceable collection of topographic maps in the USGS Reston Map Library, as well as making the maps available for viewing and download from the USGS Store.

The processing of this invaluable collection is well underway, with more than 141,000 GeoPDF maps of the approximate total 180,000 currently available for download. Over the next months the number of files available, in a variety of published scales, will continue to expand until all of the topographic maps created throughout the Survey's history are once again available to the public.

To search and view, go to this link.

Shot Heard Around The World

Today, April 19th in 1775 was the start of military engagements between American colonial troops and the British. The Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts started the Revolutionary War for the USA with the "shot heard around the world".

Map Collages by Matthew Cusick

Matthew Cusick is a graduate at Cooper Union that took his artistic skills and blended it with maps to make these amazing images. See more great images at this link at Top Design Magazine. Great work, fun and creative use of found maps and artistic expression.

(via Top Design Magazine)

Seeing The World Through Maps

I wanted to pass along this great online resource for historical maps from around the world. The University of Texas at Austin has digitized a vast collection of maps to form the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection. This map collection covers the world from the Polar caps to Countries to Cities. All of the collection is presented in an easy to use format for locating just what you want. The site also includes a series of links to additional map sites for reference.

These maps are wonderful ways to not only explore the world and the history behind it but to examine type and graphic elements from the past. An added bonus is that most of the maps scanned by the University of Texas Libraries are in the public domain. Take some time and see the world, you will be informed and educated by the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection.

Mapping the Interstate Graphically

This is a beautiful example of being inspired and reworking for another need. The London Underground map designed by H.C. Beck's was the inspiration for Cameron Booth to design this beautiful map of the US Interstate system. The map becomes a great way to communicate the complex system of roads that we call our Interstate. To view more or to order a copy, go to this link at Cameron Booth's website. Great design is inspired by observation.

Karen O'Leary - Making CIty Maps Works of Art

I was recently contacted by Charlotte, NC artist Karen O'Leary who has created a new way for us to view the beauty of the city. Karen's work consist of reworking maps into works of art. You may have seen the cut out maps that she created for New York City and many others which are amazing.

I am an architectural designer with an interest in all aspects of design. The New York City Map Cuts was my first large art piece. It was created to simplify the daily image of the Manhattan map that every New Yorker sees repetitively throughout any day. By simplifying the map into just an image it revealed much more information than a map crowded with words and symbols and color ever could. The information of city planning, the nature of the city block, and the importance of open space is greatly emphasized in my map cuts, especially the images in white. I love the idea of making a familiar object/image even more beautiful by simply taking away the unnecessary.

In my newer pieces, I have deconstructed the elements of a city. By working directly with a given map, new information is found in a similar and different way than with the New York City piece. The folded map is given new character and made into a piece of artwork simply by eliminated the blocks, parks, and usually a body of water. This sharp contrast between the void and solid creates a beautiful image. To me, the main paths, boulevards and nodes of a city are revealed with a stronger sense of identity in these maps. I also especially enjoy the strength that such a delicate piece of paper can hold, it reminds me of myself.

Her newest works include pen and ink drawing of city maps for nyc, paris, london, melbourne, vancouver, prague, amsterdam, dublin, boston, d.c., san franciso, chicago, and philadelphia.

My second series of work is the pen and paper series, which I just adore. I just love the graphic image that the city of Paris lends, so I've taken this image that is so uniquely Paris and I've created it simply with a set of thin vertical lines. It's amazing what a 0.25 mm of a line can create. In the Manhattan, in pen and paper piece, I've extended this concept to further show the "lines" that define a neighborhood. How the city planning and natural boundaries of a city can turn slight differences into a defined or undefined neighborhood.

Karen O'Leary has a shop studiokmo at Etsy where you can view more of her amazing maps and purchase one.

All Streets Map of US

Draw 26 million streets in the lower 48 United States, just the streets and you will get a map of the states. It is an amazing project by Ben Fry called ALL STREETS. Ben drew just the streets, no other features and the map evolved. What is amazing is you can see geographical features because of how the roads are made through the features. To view the project visit this link.

London Underground Maps

Check out this site with a history and collection of vintage London Underground Maps. The images are wonderful in the study of transportation maps. See it all at A History of the London Tube Maps.