This August 2023 article offers a brief overview of Captain James Cook’s vast explorations and the maps that resulted. Captain Cook was an explorer, surveyor, and chartmaker who commanded three voyages. On these voyages he was able to make significant contributions to the mapping of New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, and the South Pacific.
This July 2023 article gives an overview of the explorations and conquests of Hernán Cortés through Mexico, with an emphasis on the maps and related engravings that documented and mythologized his exploits.
This August 2021 article is an interview with Don McGuirk, author of "The Last Great Cartographic Myth," an authoritative online resource dedicated to the mythical Sea of the West. Don explains how he became interested in maps and the Sea of the West, how the myth first began, and how it was depicted on maps over time.
This May 2019 newsletter features Part II of an article about the mapping of North America. Learn about the key elements to look for when looking at maps of North America from the 19th century.
This April 2019 newsletter features Part I of an article about the mapping of North America. Learn about the key elements to look for when looking at maps of North America from the 16th-18th centuries and how these changed over time.