The National Map: 125 Years of Topographic Mapping

The U.S. Geological Survey is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its national program for topographic mapping (1884–2009). Topographic maps became a signature product of the USGS because the public found them—then and now—to be a versatile tool for viewing our Nation's vast landscape. During the 20th century, more than 55,000 large-scale topographic maps were published by the USGS, culminating in complete coverage of the contiguous 48 States in 1991. In the last quarter-century, the rise of the digital age, the rapid growth of Internet communications, and the technology of geographic information systems (GIS) have transformed topographic mapping science, enabling the electronic construct of The National Map of today.

Please join the USGS on December 3rd at our national headquarters as we celebrate 125 years of history and look to the future of topographic mapping.

An Invitation

A Celebration of 125 Years of Topographic Mapping

On December 3rd, the U.S. Geological Survey will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its national program for topographic maps (1884-2009) and look to the future of mapping the Nation.

Please join us on December 3, 2009 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

USGS National Center
Dallas Peck Auditorium
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192

Please RSVP by November 23, 2009, to Deena Myles at dmyles@usgs.gov. In the reservation, please put the text "125th reservation" as the subject, and include in the body (1) the number of people in the reservation, (2) their name(s), title(s), and affiliation(s), (3) their email address(es), and (4) special physical needs of participants.

Henry Gannett

An early American geographer often considered to be the father of American topographic mapping, Henry Gannett (1846–1914) began mapping topography as a member of the Hayden Geological Survey of 1871. Many USGS mapmaking methods and standards were later developed under his leadership, and the USGS Geography Program was established under his direction.

While working as a geographer for the U.S. censuses of 1880, 1890, and 1900, and the Philippine, Cuban, and Puerto Rican censuses, Gannett became interested in place names. His efforts to resolve difficulties caused by the confusion of names contributed to the establishment in 1890 of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.