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Cool (and Free!) Maps from the USGS

0910_map01.jpg

detail, Brooklyn USGS map

Tuesday afternoon alone, we saw two maps-as-art featured here on Apartment Therapy (here and here). Want some map art of your own? Want it for free?...

 
 

0910_map02.jpg

full view of Brooklyn USGS map

Go to the U.S. Geological Survey Store (don't let "store" turn you off - downloading USGS maps is absolutely free). Scroll down about half way and click "Maps Locator". Follow the ques from there to download a free, large-scale map of your choosing from anywhere in the US. Once you've downloaded the large PDF file, take it to a large-format printer's (even Kinko's can do this) and have it printed. Or, do it yourself on a small-format home inkjet printer and piece it together for a lower budget and different look.

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artwork, history, Tips, maps, free, USGS

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Comments (17)

I have been looking for Maps on craigslist THANKS!

posted by Icanmakeit on September 10th 2009 at 9:10am
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Has anyone actually ordered a map from here? I really want to get one for my boyfriend's birthday (his family home in middle of nowhere PA... pretty cool) but I can't tell how big the map actually is. Is there some way to tell so I can start thinking about frames? Thanks!

posted by NewInDupont on September 10th 2009 at 9:49am
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Not anywhere in the US. They've skipped my town entirely.

posted by Joan A. on September 10th 2009 at 9:56am
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the typical USGS 7.5 "quad" maps are largish, but not standard, poster sized 23" x 27"

Keep in mind urban areas are shown as pink so you'll have lots of pink on your wall if you want a city.

more info here:
http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/usgsmaps/usgsmaps.html

I have used these for work for years and all of the US is covered, for everywhere I've looked.

posted by ec05 on September 10th 2009 at 12:37pm
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The website says the prints are roughly 21x27.

posted by iamtommybobo on September 10th 2009 at 12:50pm
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Thanks so much for your help, everyone.

posted by NewInDupont on September 10th 2009 at 1:34pm
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Check with your state geological survey or outfitters like REI -- they may stock and sell local quads.
Large research libraries (think NYPL 42nd Street or your state's most prominent universities) usually have large map collections. They don't generally sell items * but offer a way to browse local and international maps before ordering. Their websites may have useful info, e.g. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/map_dealers.html

*Although they may have digitized older maps. A wonderful resource for those wanting a detailed map showing the exact footprint of their older house is a Sanborn fire insurance map.
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/sanborn.html

posted by merewether on September 10th 2009 at 2:27pm
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I tried this for Missoula, Montana, where I used to live, but both of the maps showed up on the screen completely crooked. I tried other cities and they looked fine. Something was definitely up when Missoula maps were digitized. Sad day.

posted by bpattweb on September 10th 2009 at 6:37pm
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It would not allow me to put markers on the map. Couldn't get it to download after that.

posted by torlee on September 10th 2009 at 11:06pm
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The Providence, RI maps are crooked too. I think I may find some way of straightening them. It seems like a huge oversight.

posted by betsbillabong on September 13th 2009 at 12:16am
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If you're a AAA member, you can get maps for free. Different color schemes than pink, too....

posted by johnsodana on September 13th 2009 at 12:40am
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I found a copy of a map that depicts the Shoreditch area of London in 1745, a few years ago. I STILL haven't had it framed but like to get it out occasionally, for a browse and a giggle. It would seem that many of the alleysways and lanes had a formal name and a more colourful 'local' alias. Would you dare to stroll down Dirty Lane on a dark night or promenade up Sound Arse Alley (I kid you not!). Yeah, I really should get it up on the wall sometime...

posted by AcrossThePond on September 13th 2009 at 7:27am
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Wow!! You can find just about ANYTHING through Google!!
Just out of curiosity, I did a search and HERE IS MY MAP!!!
Enjoy! ;)

posted by AcrossThePond on September 13th 2009 at 7:32am
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Sorry - excitement got the better of me...

http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/crace/a/007000000000016u00004000.html

posted by AcrossThePond on September 13th 2009 at 7:33am
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I bought old travel books in a used book store from 1930s Austria. They had absolutely beautiful old fold out maps in the book. So I cut out an old map of Vienna and framed it.
I love the idea of downloading and printing it. So much easier!

posted by krojahn on September 13th 2009 at 10:24am
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Those "crooked" maps aren't the result of an oversight--the orientation of a map to the page is a result of which projection is used (e.g. Transverse Mercator vs. WGS vs. State Plane...). Being a representation of a curved surface projected onto a flat plane, no map can simultaneously represent true area, shape, distance, and direction--compromises must be made.

One can also go the the USGS's Seamless Server, zoom in to a specific location or area, and choose to download various layers of data to create a custom map (though one's choices may be limited without GIS software such as ARCmap).

posted by Bruised on September 14th 2009 at 1:44pm
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One can also probably go to their nearby university for maps. My state university's geography department offers files or printouts of maps, aerial photography and satellite imagery for very nominal fees.

posted by Bruised on September 14th 2009 at 1:48pm
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