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Map Collections

Detail of Mediolanensis dvcatvs from the atlas: Theatrum orbis terrarum, Abraham Ortelius, [1570].

[Detail] Detail of Mediolanensis dvcatvs from the atlas [1570].   About this image

Overview | History | Critical Thinking | Arts & Humanities

Collection Overview

Composed of selected Americana and cartographic treasures of the Library of Congress, Map Collections has seven major categories: cities and towns, conservation and environment, discovery and exploration, Cultural Landscape, military battles and campaigns, transportation and communication, and general maps. Within these categories, there are smaller collections: Panoramic Maps, Mapping the National Parks, Maps of Liberia, and Railroad Maps.

In a hurry? Save or print these Collection Connections as a single file.

Special Features

These online exhibits provide context and additional information about this collection.

  • 1562 Map of America by Diego GutiĆ©rrez
  • Atlases
  • George Washington: Surveyor and Mapmaker

Historical Eras

These historical era(s) are best represented in the collection although they may not be all-encompassing.

  • Colonial Settlement, 1492-1763
  • The American Revolution, 1763-1783
  • The New Nation, 1780-1815
  • Expansion and Reform, 1801-1861
  • The Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877
  • Development of the Industrial United States, 1876-1915
  • Emergence of Modern America, 1890-1930

Related Collections and Exhibits

These collections and exhibits contain thematically-related primary and secondary sources. Also browse the Collection Finder for more related material on the American Memory Web site.

  • American Environmental Photographs, 1891-1936
  • Built in America, 1933-Present
  • Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789
  • Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920
  • The Northern Great Plains, 1880-1920
  • Taking the Long View, 1851-1991
  • Touring Turn-of-the-Century America, 1880-1920

Other Resources

Recommended additional sources of information.

  • Places in the News - Up-to-date maps related to current events

Search Tips

Specific guidance for searching this collection

Maps are assigned to one of seven major categories. Searching Map Collections describes the categories and how to find maps within each category.

Note that entire collections may be subsets of a category. For example, the Transportation and Communication category contains individual maps and the entire Railroad Maps collection.

To find items in this collection, search by Keyword or browse by Subject Index, Creator Index, and Geographic Location.

For help with general search strategies, see Finding Items in American Memory.

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Last Updated: 11/03/2009

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