Californians have a reputation for thinking they have it made. This satirical map from 1947 -- with the Californian vision of the rest America depicted as a barren plains of Eskimo families and cattle -- shows us that this stereotype has been going on for longer than you might think.
"Map of the United States as Californians See It" (1947) by Oren Arnold —
Californians have a reputation for thinking they have it made. This satirical map from 1947 -- with the Californian vision of the rest America depicted as a barren plains of Eskimo families and cattle -- shows us that this stereotype has been going on for longer than you might think.
Courtesy Ethel M. Fair Collection (246), Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
This ambitious map from 1926 looks at the growing American metropolis of Manhattan from a topographical birds-eye view angle -- yet still manages to capture the impressive designs of the enormous new skyscrapers starting to appear on the island.
"A Map of the Wondrous Isle of Manhattan (The Scale Is All Askew)" (1926) by C.V. Farrow —
This ambitious map from 1926 looks at the growing American metropolis of Manhattan from a topographical birds-eye view angle -- yet still manages to capture the impressive designs of the enormous new skyscrapers starting to appear on the island.
Courtesy American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee Libraries
Every Chinatown is regarded as a place of mystery and intrigue, but San Francisco's is probably the most elusive of all. This map by artist Ethel Chun uses a traditional Chinese color scheme to try and explain the chaos of Chinatown to the average American tourist.
"Chinatown San Francisco" (1939) by Ethel Chun —
Every Chinatown is regarded as a place of mystery and intrigue, but San Francisco's is probably the most elusive of all. This map by artist Ethel Chun uses a traditional Chinese color scheme to try and explain the chaos of Chinatown to the average American tourist.
Courtesy Ethel M. Fair Collection (246), Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
This map of Chicago gangland of the 1930s promises to "graphically portray the evils and sin of large cities," but the result is more likely to entice people with it's nods to Al Capone, "Big Jim" Colosimo and the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
"A Map of Chicago's Gangland from Authentic Sources: Designed to Inculcate the Most Important Principles of Piety and Virtue in Young Persons and Graphically Portray the Evils and Sin of Large Cities" (1931) by Arthur Erickson —
This map of Chicago gangland of the 1930s promises to "graphically portray the evils and sin of large cities," but the result is more likely to entice people with it's nods to Al Capone, "Big Jim" Colosimo and the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
Courtesy Ethel M. Fair Collection (621), Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
This map by architect Clark Teegarden was designed as a souvenir for American servicemen stationed in Panama. With its Art Deco lettering and attention to detail, it is regarded as one of the most attractive pictorial maps of the period.
"Pictorial Map of the Republic of Panama with the Canal Zone" (1941) by Clark Teegarden and John F. Herman —
This map by architect Clark Teegarden was designed as a souvenir for American servicemen stationed in Panama. With its Art Deco lettering and attention to detail, it is regarded as one of the most attractive pictorial maps of the period.
Courtesy Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
Also from Panama, this advert for the Panama Mail Steamship Company's Spanish-American Cruise takes us on a journey across South America, showing us pirates, conquistadors and Aztecs in a decidedly un-PC take on the continent.
"Panama Mail S.S. Co. The Sea Coastes of America Shewing the Ports of Call of the Panama Mail Steamships as the Country there aboutes Is Lying and Situated, with All the Haven Therof" (1928) by Harrison Godwin, Panama Mail S.S. Co. —
Also from Panama, this advert for the Panama Mail Steamship Company's Spanish-American Cruise takes us on a journey across South America, showing us pirates, conquistadors and Aztecs in a decidedly un-PC take on the continent.
Courtesy The Huntington Library, San Marino, California
This pictorial map might look like it comes from the time of Magellan and Columbus, but it was actually commissioned by New York bank Merrill Lynch in the 1960s. It features icons of the time, such as the Apollo spacecraft and presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon flying on the top of a bald eagle, in a surreal, satirical take on the form.
"Myths, Maps & Men: Merrill Lynch Salutes the Year of the Moon" (1969) by M. Ramus —
This pictorial map might look like it comes from the time of Magellan and Columbus, but it was actually commissioned by New York bank Merrill Lynch in the 1960s. It features icons of the time, such as the Apollo spacecraft and presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon flying on the top of a bald eagle, in a surreal, satirical take on the form.
Courtesy University of Chicago Press
In the early 1930s the city of Cleveland was trying to position itself as a major hub of American industry; a place of skyscrapers, high-speed trains and heavy engineering to rival its Midwestern competitors. The powers that be commissioned this pictorial map to show the city's potential to an increasingly industrialized America.
"The Capital of a New Trade Empire" (c. 1930) by Cleveland Terminal Group —
In the early 1930s the city of Cleveland was trying to position itself as a major hub of American industry; a place of skyscrapers, high-speed trains and heavy engineering to rival its Midwestern competitors. The powers that be commissioned this pictorial map to show the city's potential to an increasingly industrialized America.
Courtesy University of Chicago Press
Unlike the other maps on show, this one doesn't show a real place but rather a state of mind: the skull of a drunken person likely to be castigated by the prohibition movement of the 1920s. With its references to "hangover hollow" and "hilarity heights" it was probably as amusing to the American public then as it is now.
"Map Showing Isle of Pleasure" (1931) by H.J. (Heinie) Lawrence —
Unlike the other maps on show, this one doesn't show a real place but rather a state of mind: the skull of a drunken person likely to be castigated by the prohibition movement of the 1920s. With its references to "hangover hollow" and "hilarity heights" it was probably as amusing to the American public then as it is now.
Courtesy Muriel H. Parry Collection (65), Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
This map produced Hawaiian tourist board takes a light-hearted, Disney-esque look at the wonders of the island, conjuring up mountains, palm trees and cherub-faced hula girls for a mainland audience only just starting to discover the wonders of mass travel.
"Hawaii" (1941) by Ruth Taylor White —
This map produced Hawaiian tourist board takes a light-hearted, Disney-esque look at the wonders of the island, conjuring up mountains, palm trees and cherub-faced hula girls for a mainland audience only just starting to discover the wonders of mass travel.
Courtesy Ethel M. Fair Collection (246), Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
During World War II, the pictorial map took on a more sinister role, providing propaganda for a public who didn't yet have access to fast news or 24-hour television.<br /><br />This map by artist Ernest Dudley Chase uses traditional Japanese art motifs to show the routes of American bombers in the Far East. The racist language in its title reflects the prejudices of the time.
"Japan, the Target: A Pictorial Jap Map" (1943) by Ernest Dudley Chase —
During World War II, the pictorial map took on a more sinister role, providing propaganda for a public who didn't yet have access to fast news or 24-hour television.

This map by artist Ernest Dudley Chase uses traditional Japanese art motifs to show the routes of American bombers in the Far East. The racist language in its title reflects the prejudices of the time.
Courtesy Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress
<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fdp%2FB06X9MXBGY%3Ftag%3Dskim1x165676-21" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Picturing America: The Golden Age Of Pictorial Maps"</a> by Stephen J. Hornsby, published by University of Chicago Press, is out now.
"Picturing America: The Golden Age Of Pictorial Maps" by Stephen J. Hornsby, published by University of Chicago Press, is out now.
Courtesy University of Chicago Press