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Vintage maps at the Geological Survey There is something about Wisconsin maps from the early twentieth century. Their colors seem more vivid than those of modern maps. Even their legends are more interesting: How many recently produced maps have categories that include Buildings, Wharves, Jetties, Breakwater, Levee, Lighthouse, Fort or School, Church, Creamery, Cemetery?
This mapping was completed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and the University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture. The maps were drafted at the county (most at a scale of approximately 1 inch = 1 mile) and the regional (a scale of approximately 1 inch = 3 miles) levels. All the maps have been folded, but can be successfully mounted or laminated in a way that diminishes the folds. Thirty-three counties are represented; six regional maps covering the central and northern parts of the state are available. (See our special order form, which is in Adobe® Acrobat® format, for the counties and regions covered by these maps.) All are accompanied by soil survey reports. Bound sets of soil surveys are also available. These little slices of Wisconsin's past are of potential interest
to many. Some people are drawn to these maps because they provide a sense
of history of place, because they show a home town or a spot that inspires
happy Prices range from $2 for individual maps to $4.80 to $8.00 for bound sets. Come in to the Map Sales office or order from the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, 3817 Mineral Point Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53705-5100. MasterCard and Visa customers may telephone (608/263.7389) their orders between the hours of 8 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Call for shipping and handling charges, or download our special order form. |
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Updated 3 June 2008 |
The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey has a
cache of maps that date from 1903 to 1930. Although the maps were primarily
created to delineate the soils of the state, they show much more than
that: They offer a glimpse of the transportation infrastructure (steam
and electric railroads, trails, ferry landings), landscape features that
may not be visible today (salt marshes, swamps, tidal flats, escarpments,
rock outcrops), and geology (stony and gravelly areas, quarries). 
vacation memories. Some like the artistry of the presentation.
Still others enjoy comparing the scientific thought processes of the
past with those of the present.