Historical Atlas of the United States » (1st Edition)

Derek Hayes is the author of Historical Atlas of the Pacific Northwest, The Historical Atlas of the Arctic, and Historical Atlas of Canada, among other books.

Using more than five hundred historical maps from collections around the world, this stunning book is the first to tell the story of America's past from a unique geographical perspective. Covering more than half a millennium in U.S. history—from conception to colonization to Hurricane Katrina—this atlas documents the discoveries and explorations, the intrigue and negotiations, the technology and the will that led the United States to become what it is today. Richly detailed, visually breathtaking maps are accompanied by extended captions that elucidate the stories and personalities behind their creation.
Coasts and mountains, rivers and lakes, and peaks and plains are described by explorers encountering them for the first time. These maps can convey explorers' ideas of what lay over the mountains ahead, their notions about what was discovered, and their explanations of the land's potential for sponsors back home. The maps can also show a promoter's attempt to sell his project to settlers or a general's assessment of a coming battle. They chart the wars that created and molded the country: the French and Indian War and the War for Independence; the Mexican and Civil Wars; the numerous Indian wars; as well as more localized battles of conquest and survival. Readers can follow the progression of map creation and design as more knowledge was gained about the American continent.
Distilling an enormous amount of information into one handsome volume, the Historical Atlas of the United States highlights the evolution of geographical knowledge at the same time that it presents a fascinating chronicle of the expansion and development of a nation.
Copub: Douglas & McIntyre

Library Journal

Hayes (Historical Atlas of the Pacific Northwest), a geographer trained at the University of Hull, England, and the University of British Columbia, offers a publication in which 535 carefully selected maps mostly from the Library of Congress are beautifully reproduced in full color. He provides the primary-source documentation for the historical narrative spanning the 500-year period of the development of the United States, from the earliest European exploration to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The maps mostly appear chronologically according to the flow of history, and all are accompanied by extensive captions and listed in the "Map Catalog," with sources and accession numbers when applicable. As always, Hayes has chosen maps that engage both viewers' intellect and their aesthetic sense. Bottom Line The atlas's scope is similar to that of Seymour I. Schwartz's This Land Is Your Land: The Geographic Evolution of the United States (Abrams, 2000), another handsomely produced (though more expensive) collection of period maps with historical commentary. A quality publication at an amazingly low price; highly recommended for all public and academic libraries, as well as map mavens everywhere. [Not available in Canada.-Ed.]-Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Pierce, FL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Using more than five hundred historical maps from collections around the world, this stunning book is the first to tell the story of America's past from a unique geographical perspective. Covering more than half a millennium in U.S. history—from conception to colonization to Hurricane Katrina—this atlas documents the discoveries and explorations, the intrigue and negotiations, the technology and the will that led the United States to become what it is today. Richly detailed, visually breathtaking maps are accompanied by extended captions that elucidate the stories and personalities behind their creation.
Coasts and mountains, rivers and lakes, and peaks and plains are described by explorers encountering them for the first time. These maps can convey explorers' ideas of what lay over the mountains ahead, their notions about what was discovered, and their explanations of the land's potential for sponsors back home. The maps can also show a promoter's attempt to sell his project to settlers or a general's assessment of a coming battle. They chart the wars that created and molded the country: the French and
Indian War and the War for
Independence; the Mexican and Civil Wars; the numerous
Indian wars; as well as more localized battles of conquest and survival. Readers can follow the progression of map creation and design as more knowledge was gained about the American continent.
Distilling an enormous amount of information into one handsome volume, the Historical Atlas of the United States highlights the evolution of geographical knowledge at the same time that it presents a fascinating chronicle of the expansion and development of a nation.
Copub: Douglas & Mc
Intyre