1950s Rand McNally Pictorial Road Map of Florida

This is a c. 1950s Rand McNally pictorial road map of Florida designed for the Gulf Oil Corporation. The map depicts the state from Tallahassee and the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean and from Georgia to Key West. Highly detailed, myriad cities and towns throughout Florida are labeled, including Tallahassee, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Everglades National Park occupies a large portion of the southern part of the state, while other national forests, state parks, and state forests are scattered throughout. Other tourist destinations, such as the Devil's Punch Bowl, the circus winter quarters, and the Ocean Beach Speedway are highlighted by small, eye-catching vignettes. Florida is a major destination for fishing enthusiasts, and this map highlights thirty-two different species of fish that could be caught in Florida's rivers and lakes, as well as along its coastlines.

Publication History and Census

This map was designed by Rand McNally for the Gulf Oil Company and published in the 1950s. At least two states of this map were published. One state (of which the offered example is representative) includes an inset key map to the right of the map's title. On the other state this key map is absent. Unfortunately we are not certain which state precedes the other.