Map of The United States of America

Object Details

Object Essay

John Melish was the first American cartographer to work exclusively on mapmaking.^{1_{Ristow, 179–90.}} An immigrant from Scotland, he was in Philadelphia in 1812 to publish a book about his travels in America when he met the engravers John Vallance and Henry S. Tanner. He soon engaged in cartographical projects, such as an atlas illustrating events from the War of 1812, a guide to students on the use of maps, a great map of the United States in 1816, and an official state map of Pennsylvania published in 1822.            

Melish’s map of the United States was probably seen by more Americans than any other during the 1820s and 1830s because it was the initial and index map to the Carey and Lea’s Complete Historical, Chronological, and Geographical Atlas, as well as Lavoisne’s Complete Genealogical, Historical . . . Atlas. On the map, the newest state is Missouri, and present-day Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota remain within the last of the old Northwest Territory. The Louisiana Territory, which would be purchased by Jefferson, is labeled “Missouri Territory” and “Arkansas Territory.” Most of the Great Plains are labeled “Great American Desert” as a result of Stephen Long’s pessimistic report. Information on the Missouri River and Columbia River systems is much more detailed than that found for the Southwest because of the expedition report made by Lewis and Clark ten years earlier. Today’s Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are shown as possessions of Mexico, indicating sparse knowledge of that area.         

Melish shows the United States as it emerged from the War of 1812, with its new visions of a powerful country guided by the philosophies of Henry Clay’s American System. Clay called for well-defined states promoting agriculture and industry, which would be served by new roads and canals. The Industrial Revolution was on the immediate horizon.  

Donald H. Cresswell

Excerpted from Clement E. Conger, et al. Treasures of State: Fine and Decorative Arts in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the U.S. Department of State. New York: H.N. Abrams, 1991.