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Great Lakes Essential Resources: Historical Maps & Charts

Last Updated: Jan 8, 2024 4:08 PM

Top Resources for Historical Maps & Charts of the Great Lakes

Selected List of Historical Maps Showing All Great Lakes

Partie Occidentale du Canada ou de la Nouvelle France ou sont les Nations des Ilinois, de Tracy, les Iroquois, et Plusieurs autres Peuples; avec la Louisiane Nouvellement Decouverte..., 1688. (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

La Louisiana, parte settentrionalle, scoperta sotto la protettione di Luigi XIV, Ré di Francia..., 1697. (Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center at Boston Public Library)

A New and Accurate Map of the English Empire in North America: Representing their Rightful Claim as confirmed by Charters ...,1755. (Osher Map Library)

Canada ou Nouvelle France (die Landtschafft Canada oder dass Neue Franckreich),1782. (Osher Map Library)

  • Shows all five Great Lakes. Note French names.

A Map of the British Colonies in North America with the Roads, Distances, Limits, and extent of the Settlements, Humbly Inscribed to the Right Honourable the Earl of Halifax, and the other Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners for Trade & Plantations by Their Lordships most obliged and very humble servant, Jno. Mitchell, 1775. (Osher Map Library)

  • Note alternate names for Lake Erie (Okswego) and Lake Ontario (Catarakui) 

The Theatre of War in North America, with the Roads and A Table of the Distances,1776. (Osher Map Library)

  • Accompanying text lists and details British colonies, including population. 

Carte Nouvelle de l'Amerique Angloise contenant tout ce que les Anglois possedent sur le continent de l'Amerique Septentrionale Savoir le Canada, la Nouvelle Ecosse ou Acadie, les treize Provinces unies qui sont: les quatres Colonies de la Nouvelle Anglet, ca. 02/1777 (Osher Map Library)

  • Shows all five Great Lakes. Note French names.,

Map of the province of Canada, and the lower colonies : shewing the connection by steam navigation with New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin & Minnesota, and with Europe by the route of the River St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes, shewing also the connections by railways & canals with New England, Mississippi & Missouri Rivers, Iowa & Nebraska, 1855. (Penn State University Libraries)

 

Historical Maps & Charts of Lake Superior

North America, Sheet IV : Lake Superior1832. (University of Minnesota Libraries, John R. Borchert Map Library.)

Township map of Lake Superior region and Upper Mississippi: Compiled from government surveys, 1872. (University of Minnesota Libraries, John R. Borchert Map Library.)

Historical Maps & Charts of Lake Michigan

Historical Maps & Charts of Lake Erie

colorful map depicting northern United states in French

Jean-Baptiste Nolin, Partie Occidentale du Canada ou de la Nouvelle France ou sont les Nations des Ilinois, de Tracy, les Iroquois, et Plusieurs autres Peuples; avec la Louisiane Nouvellement Decouverte...​​ (1688). Image source: Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection.

colored historical map

Emmanuel Bowen,  A New and Accurate Map of New Jersey, Pensilvania, New York and New England, with the adjacent Countries... (1747). Image source: Osher Map Library.

shaded labeled antique map

Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Great Britain),  North America, Sheet IV : Lake Superior (1832). Image source: University of Minnesota Libraries, John R. Borchert Map Library.

Historical map of the country between lakes Michigan and Erie

David H. Burr,  Map exhibiting the country between Lakes Michigan and Erie and the contested boundary lines. (1843). Image source: Beinecke Rare Books & Manuscript Library.

beige and black antique line map

H.W. Bayfield,  Lake Huron. (c. 1848). Image source: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.

Historical navigational chart and map of lake Erie

A. Burke,  A Chart of Lake Erie ... Buffalo. (1848). Image source: Beinecke Rare Books & Manuscript Library.

Historical map of the Morris's purchase of West Genesee in the state of New York

Joseph Ellicot,  Map of the Morris's purchase of West Genesee in the state of New York: part of the lakes Erie and ontario, the Straights of Niagara... (1804). Image source: Beinecke Rare Books & Manuscript Library.

uncolored shaded historical map

Edward M. Hodder,  Chart of Lake Ontario. (1863). Image source: Brock University.