Panoramic Minnesota
During the 19th and 20th centuries, cities’ local chambers of commerce and other civic organizations prepared and sponsored their own maps as ways to advertise the existing commercial activity. Pictorial maps are also known as "illustrated maps, panoramic maps, perspective maps, bird's-eye view maps, and geopictorial maps." This style of map commonly uses a 3-D perspective and heightened angle, typically not drawn to scale. Wikipedia"Somewhat like the websites of their time, every town sought to have one [panoramic map] to remain competitive in attracting industry and the immigrant trade. Sometimes artistic exaggeration bordered on the fraudulent, as some travelers were drawn by images of idyllic, bustling towns with humming factories only to find a sad little bunch of mud-soaked shacks when they got there." WikipediaFive main artists/cartographers created over 55% of the Library of Congress’ panoramic map collection, likely due to the long process of creating each map. Artists would walk city streets, sketching notable trees, buildings, and landmarks, later combining the sketches and raising the visual angle to accurately depict the landscape.Advancements in artistic technologies (lithography, engraving, etc.) allowed for expedited pictorial map recreation. Popular, and heavily detailed, city maps functioned in local homes as wall decor, promoting personal civic pride. Hosts were able to point out to visitors exactly where they lived, worked, and socialized, heightening the relationship between identity and locale. While production occurred throughout the country, the demand for city promotion was higher north of the Mason-Dixon line.Many of these maps (both originals and modern recreations) are still popular today for their detail and visual appeal. Panoramic pictorial maps serve as the main way that the “vitality of America’s urban centers” was graphically documented.For Minnesota specifically, these maps showcase the state's history and growth through mining, milling, timber, and railroads. Minnesota is also notorious for its plethora of lakes and associated recreational activities. The cities showcased in this exhibit represent the metropolitan growth of both Minnesota, and the Midwest as a whole.Minnesota Wikipedia PageLibrary of Congress, Panoramic MappingLink to Google Slide Deck
