Disclaimer: We did get lost in Kansas for about a month. But that was all part of the fun.
Posted on 08/31/2025 4:41:54 PM PDT by kawhill
Historically, USGS topographic maps were made using data from primary sources including direct field observations. Those maps were compiled, drawn, and edited by hand. By today's standards, those traditional methods are very expensive and time-consuming, and the USGS no longer has funding to make maps that way.
(Excerpt) Read more at usgs.gov ...
Review
Which makes the older paper maps more valuable if you hike or use the maps for off-roading.
Great post.
I remember in my youth paying close attention to a USGS topo map near Lexington Park, MD.
It was under glass bt virtue of my Uncle who was a Navy test pilot. Thereafter I acquired a few hard copy maps, but it is apparent that new tech is making that info more accurate and accessible.
The USGS hard copy maps are worth preservation, framing, and otherwise curious scrutiny.
While in the Army, I had the opportunity to visit a side-lined boxcar that was filled with all the latest USGS maps. Later while in school, I worked in a map library and cataloged thousands of USGS maps that had piled up in a backlog. It was a little depressing to replace maps I had already cataloged with its newer edition. Interestingly, the university somehow acquired a set of topographic maps from Nazi Germany and every sheet was stamped with a spread-wing eagle clutching a wreathed swastika.
The last thing we need is AI involvement
Yeah, the old ones also had labels on ore deposits and mines.
I threw away many about 5 years ago. Didn’t think I’d get to those places again, and haven’t.
I love those maps, used to work with them a lot as base maps for other things. Another great feature found on the USGS topo sheets (going from my very old memory) is the magnetic north arrow compared with with True North arrow and how much deviation there has been over the years... comes in handy when using a compass & the GPS goes wonky.
The last thing we need is AI involvement.
AI, as far as I know, has little to do with those tools, but it could.
I went to a university that had a map room in the science library. Everything from official maps to old gas station maps.
Hours of entertainment.
Disclaimer: We did get lost in Kansas for about a month. But that was all part of the fun.
Haha, great map. Are you sure you were in Kansas? Coulda been in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, or Indiana.
Very cute.
Get topoView and you have a selection of historic and current maps with different scales. You can download to several different formats including jpeg, pdf and kmz.
https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer/#4/40.01/-100.06
The absence of survey markers is unacceptable.
Utah’s missing. Oh well.
> Utah’s missing. Oh well. <
Ha! And that explains why we were never able to find the Great Salt Lake.
😀
Like Ahnold said, I’ll be back.
By August of 1944, the Germans' investment in topo maps of the UK were not returning much of a dividend. My relative, however, got a dandy map out of it all to help him navigate what was left of the Thousand Year Reich's road network.
Given the mid-west “I don’t know” region, I’m inclined to think that the area of Vermont/New Hampshire that’s labeled “Idfk” is “I don’t flipping know”. AmIright?
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