The Greatest Map Of The United States

Here & Now producers Hitesh Hathi (left) and Jill Ryan hold Dave Imus’ massive map of the United States. (Jesse Costa/Here & Now)

Have you ever been completely enthralled by a map?

Many of us at Here & Now were mesmerized when we unraveled a new map of the U.S by Dave Imus. We ogled at the details! Pointed out familiar landmarks. Marveled at our utter lack of geographic awareness. OK, we’re public radio nerds, but we aren’t alone in our appreciation of a good map.

Slate magazine calls Imus’ cartographic work of art, “The Greatest Paper Map Of The United States You’ll Ever See.”

“What I did different than anybody else who ever made a map of the United States was that I brought into focus… the basic geography,” Imus told Here & Now‘s Robin Young. “People that read this map or look at it on the wall can understand and appreciate more deeply the character of the United States… the lay of the land.”

This interview originally aired on January 26th, 2012.

Here & Now: ‘The Greatest Paper Map Of The United States You’ll Ever See’

Guest:

Dave Imus, cartographer of Imus Geographics

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

Albert_genato

Can we buy this map somewhere?
- ksundt
  
  Here’s a link to Imus Geographics.
  http://imusgeographics.com/maps/usa
  
  I hope this helps,�
  Kassandra
  H&N Web Producer
Raoul

Pretty neat! However if one wishes to see true art in cartography look at some of the charts made by European cartographers whose charts and datum was still used in the 1960-70s. Take a peek of the French Frigate Shoals chart which for the most part was done by James J. Whistler General Custer’s class mate at West Point. Both finished at the bottom of their class. Whistler worked for the U.S. Geodetic Survey, todays NOAA, but was fired because he could not refrain from placing figurines on said chart disguised in the surf. Captains Cook and William Bligh are outstanding cartographers. The charts of Tahiti and Barbados are also quit good. I know, I used these charts during my maritime career. Good book to read on the subject is: The Map Makers Dream.
Dawn White

Where can one buy this map?