“A monumental achievement, which will no doubt set the benchmark for future studies of Louisiana cartography and historical geography.”
Louisiana History
Charting Louisiana
Five Hundred Years of Maps
edited by Alfred E. Lemmon, John T. Magill, and Jason Wiese; consulting editor, John R. Hébert
See Louisiana like never before, through historical maps tracing the geographical, economic, and cultural development of the state.
Charting Louisiana: Five Hundred Years of Maps
HNOC 2003; 2nd printing 2012
hardcover • 14" × 12" • 408 pp.
348 color images
ISBN 978-0-917860-47-8
$105.00
Published in 2003 to commemorate the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase, Charting Louisiana: Five Hundred Years of Maps relates the epic history of Louisiana from European exploration to colonization and development. From the earliest appearance of the Gulf Coast on a 16-century woodcut to a color-enhanced satellite view of the state, this atlas presents an extraordinary gathering of 193 manuscripts and printed maps (all full-color plates), many of them rarely made available to the public. Six supporting essays lead the reader across the historical panorama of Louisiana as found in its cartography.
A must-have for fans of historical cartography, Charting Louisiana is an unprecedented compilation of maps from the extensive holdings of the Historic New Orleans Collection, the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress, the Newberry Library, the Louisiana State Museum, and archives in France, Spain, Great Britain, and Mexico.
Praise for Charting Louisiana
“It sets the standard for a state atlas. Let us hope that the editors’ lead is followed elsewhere and that the quality of this work is perpetuated.”
Journal of Southern History
“This atlas is remarkable for both its content and the quality of production. It is highly recommended for any library and individual interested in the mapping of America.”
Imago Mundi
Awards
Humanities Book of the Year, Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, 2004
Louisiana Literary Award, Louisiana Library Association, 2004
Best Book on the Gulf South, Gulf South Historical Association, 2004
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One of the most accurate and meticulous maps of antebellum New Orleans is the work of an eccentric 19th-century cartographer.
Exhibitions
Cartographic Legacies: Historical Maps at the Williams Research Center
September 28 to December 11, 2021
Rare maps shed light on early exploration, Native Americans, colonial development, warfare and diplomacy, maritime and river navigation, and economic development.
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