Every
Map Has a Purpose
 The
appearance of maps is shaped by their purpose, as well as by the
reliability of the information available to their makers.
Cartographers
base decisions such as what scale to use, what information to include
and how many colors are needed in part on how they expect their maps to
be used.
Two
maps of the same place and publication date can look very different: A
map for fur traders presents information about waterways, plants and
animals. One for settlers shows roads, railroads and rivers. A map of
the Great Lakes made for classroom use may not look much like one
included in a European atlas.
The Geological
Map of the Middle and Western States (above) identifies outcropping
strata from New York, south to North Carolina and west to the
Mississippi River with more than 20 shades of hand-applied watercolors.
Although James Hall of Albany, New York, made this map in 1843, it well
illustrates the relationships between the structural features of the
areas.
What's
Cool About Maps? features 29 maps from the collection of the Jesse
Besser Museum, Alpena, Michigan. The exhibit was at the Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing, Michigan, during the fall of 2001.
This online minitour of the exhibit features one map from each of seven themes.
Visit each of the themes by clicking on the titles in the left
column. The map images were photographed under existing light
conditions in the gallery. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image.
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