Making of America Map Series

Here are the Making of America series of maps put out by National Geographic between 1982 and 1988. These maps are a definite must for the history buffs out there interested in the history of one of these regions. The maps are filled historical footnotes on one side of the map and has lots of articles and illustrations on the region on the other side.









The maps on this page are listed from the earliest map put out to the most recent one.

Click on Map Titles that are Links to see a Picture of that map.

1. Making of America: The Southwest - November 1982 (27"x20")
Side A: This side starts with a historical overview of the region. Then it is filled with inset maps and illustrations showing early Indian occupation, the Spanish conquest showing explorers' routes, the Anglo-American entry and occupancy showing early Indian reservations and the Southwest today showing Anglo and Hispanic immigration, population growth and more. It also has six small maps of the regions journey from Viceroyalty to statehood.

2. The Southwest - November 1982 (27"x20")
Side B: Here is a beautiful map of the Southwest including the states of Arizona and New Mexico and surrounding neighbors. It has an abundance of historical notes and information on points of interest which include national parks, Indian reservations, ruins, historic trail markers, missions, pueblos, battlefields, mining areas and ghost towns.

3. Making of America: Hawaii - November 1983 (27"x20.5")
Side A: This side is rich in information on the history of the Hawaiian islands from the arrival of the Polynesians to the present. It has a map and information detailing the arrival of the Polynesians and Europeans, a map showing Hawaii in transition from the late 18th to mid-19th centuries, a historical overview and map of the sugar industry, a map and information about the region as a territory and a map and information on Hawaii since its statehood.

4. Hawaii map - November 1983 (27"x20.5")
Side B: This side has details of the principal islands of Hawaii as well as the complete chain of islands and reefs that make up the state. It has lots of historical notes of such spots as Pearl Harbor and includes an inset map of the state of Hawaii with all the islands and reefs.

6. The Deep South map - August 1983 (27"x20")
Side B: This is a detailed historical map which includes the states of Arkansas, Tennessee, North/South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. It is filled with historical notes and locations of national parks, Indian reservations, battlefields, sites and trails or waterways.

7. Making of America: Atlantic Gateways - March 1983 (27"x20.5)
Side A: This side has an introduction and historical overview of the region. It has maps showing Indians and trade (1600-1760), detailing immigration to the region, the race to the Hinterlands (1800-1840), detailing the growth of industry (1840-1910) and urban expansion in the region from 1945 to present. It has lots of colorful illustrations.

8. Atlantic Gateways - March 1983 (27"x20.5")
Side B: This map encompasses the central states on the eastern seaboard including New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and Southern Ontario. This map is filled with an abundance of historical notes on this region.

9. Making of America: Alaska - January 1984 (27"x20")
Side A: This side is filled with historical information of the area and starts with a historical introduction. It includes maps showing Native Alaska (1700-1743), the Russia America map (1743-1876), a physical map with historical notes (1867-1940), the Military Alaska map (1940-1959) and a map of Alaska since statehood.

10. Alaska map - January 1984 (27"x20")
Side B: This side has a beautiful mountain relief which help show the pristine wilderness of this region. It is filled with historical and geographical notes of the region.

11. Making of America: The Far West - April 1984 (27"x20.5")
Side A: This side includes a historical introduction to the region and has a wealth of information and illustrations on the early days of the Indians and Spanish settlements, the discovery of gold and silver and the establishment of the agricultural and film industries.

12. The Far West - April 1984 (27"x20.5")
Side B: This map covers California and Nevada and is filled with historical notes showing the history, geography and tourists sites to be found in this region. It shows Indian reservations, ghost towns, missions, national parks, mining areas and other sites.

> 14. The Central Rockies - August 1984 (27"x20")
Side B: This map covers Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, southeastern Idaho, western South Dakota, western Nebraska, western Kansas and southeastern Nevada. It is filled with historical notes and information on points of interest.

15. Making of America: Northern Approaches Maine to the Maritimes - February 1985 (27"x20")
Side A: This side starts with an introduction to the early history of the region. It includes individual maps of the region circa 1000-1630, the Northeast Contested map showing this region from 1630-1763, a map detailing the region's changing economy from 1850-1950 and a Cultural Imprint map from 1950 to the present. It has a text overview of each historical period.

16. Northern Approaches Maine to the Maritimes - February 1985 (27"x20")
Side B: This educational map shows Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and eastern Quebec. This map shows the rich cultural history of this maritime region with an abundance of historical notes.

17. Making of America: The Central Plains - September 1985 (27"x20")
Side A: See how this region shifted from a wild landscape of bison and Native American tribes to the nation's breadbasket and agricultural heartland. This side is filled with historical information and colorful illustrations. It is filled with inset maps showing the Indian relocation from 1830-1900, three maps of Indian history (1830-1906), a map with information about the dust bowl, two maps showing the change from Indian land to frontier settlements and two maps showing immigration and agricultural.

18. The Central Plains - September 1985 (27"x20")
Side B: This historical map covers Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and eastern Colorado. It is filled with historical notes as well as historical trails, national parks, ghost towns, battle fields and more.

19. Making of America: The Ohio Valley - December 1985 (27"x20")
Side A: This side starts with a historical overview of the region. It has six maps with text detailing the history of the region. It includes information on aboriginal cultures, colonization, Indian removal, farming, Civil War conflicts, coal mining, modern industries and more.

20. The Ohio Valley - December 1985 (27"x20")
Side B: This map encompasses Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, western Virginia, eastern Missouri, northern Mississippi, northern Alabama, northern Georgia and eastern North Carolina. It is filled with historical notes and information on points of interest.

> 22. Texas - March 1986 (27"x20")
Side B: This map covers Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, eastern New Mexico, northern Coahuila, northeastern Chihuahua and northern Nuevo Leon. It is filled with historical notes about key sites including information about major cities.

23. Making of America: The Pacific Northwest - August 1986 (27"x20")
Side A: This side has a historical overview of the region and five maps which show how this region changed from tribal lands and fur trading posts to a region of national parks, lumber industry, dams and resorts. It includes text for each of the five periods and colorful illustrations.

24. The Pacific Northwest - August 1986 (27"x20")
Side B: This map covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, southern British Columbia and southern Alberta. It is filled with historical notes and points of interest highlighting this region's colorful history and spectacular scenery.

25. Making of America: The Northern Plains - December 1986 (27"x20")
Side A: This side uses five maps with text and colorful illustrations showing the regions change from buffalo ranges and hunting grounds of the Plains Indian Tribes to the agriculture, petroleum, mining and manufacturing industries today.

26. The Northern Plains - December 1986 (27"x20")
Side B: This side has a map covering Montana, Wyoming, North/South Dakota, Minnesota, northern Nebraska, Northern Iowa, southern Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba and southern Ontario. It is filled with historical notes and points of interest including the Battle of Little Bighorn site, the Oregon-Mormon trail and Mount Rushmore.

27. Making of America: New England - February 1987 (27"x20.5")
Side A: This side has a historical introduction and colorful illustrations. It has six maps detailing specific eras of New England history with settlement, revolution, immigration and industry. There is an inset map showing the 1777 attempt to isolate New England.

28. New England map - February 1987 (27"x20.5")
Side B: This map covers Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, eastern New York, northern New Jersey and southern Quebec. It is filled with information of this historically rich region with sites like early Puritan settlements, battlefields of the American Revolution and the Appalachian Trail.

> 30. The Great Lakes - July 1987 (27"x20")
Side B: This map covers Ontario, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, northern Illinois, northern Indiana, northern Ohio and northwestern New York. It is filled with historical information as well as tourist attractions.

31. Making of America: The West Indies - November 1987 (27"x20.5")
Side A: This side contains a historical introduction with several other maps. They show the Spanish Caribbean (1492-1625), the Imperial Rivalries map (1625-1763), a map of the region from 1763-1823, a map detailing the United States involvement in the area from 1898-1945 and maps showing activities in the region from 1945 to the present.

32. The West Indies - November 1987 (27"x20.5")
Side B: This informative map covers the West Indies, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, northern Columbia and northern Venezuela. This map is filled with historical notes on the culturally diverse and historical rich islands of the Caribbean. It also includes national parks, Indian reservations, battlefields, ruins and other sites.

33. Making of America: Tidewater and Environs - June 1988 (27"x20")
Side A: This side has a historical introduction and lots of colorful illustrations. It has a map showing the region during the arrival of the first Europeans, a map showing the frontier from 1650 to 1783, information and maps during the Civil War era, a map of the regions growth with information on land use, a map highlighting the regions growth since 1950 and 4 maps showing the changing Capital region from 1800-1986.

34. Tidewater and Environs - June 1988 (27"x20")
Side B: This detailed map covers the states North/South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. The map is filled with historical notes and information on sites of interest.

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