Night Music: Blue Train

Mapping America

There are few things I enjoy more than history and maps.  So, finding a site that perfectly matches both is a joy and something to be shared. I came across one today: It is the America Transformed: Mapping the 19th Century exhibit at the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Centre.  To quote their Introduction:

“During the 19th century, the United States expanded dramatically westward. Immigrant settlers rapidly spread across the continent and transformed it … Historical maps, images and related objects tell the story of the sweeping changes made to the physical, cultural, and political landscape. Moving beyond the mythologized American frontier, this map exhibition explores the complexity of factors that shaped [America] over the century.”

This is Part One of a two-part series, covering The United States Expands Westward, 1800-1862.  Part Two — From Homesteads to Modern Cities, 1862-1900 will be available in November.

If you have any interest in 19th century American history and/or an interest in how maps and graphics help shape our view of history, this is a site worth spending some time exploring.