1954 Department of Conservation and Lee Carter Pictorial Map of Indiana

This is a 1954 Indiana Department of Conservation pictorial map of Indiana. The map highlights Indiana's history and its place in the broader history of the United States.

A Closer Look

The map depicts the state of Indiana but also marks the Indiana Territory's boundaries and how they changed prior to statehood. Text blurbs and illustrations summarize regional history from the 17th century. Explorers, such as Marquette and La Salle, are referenced. Native American tribes are named, and a handful of villages are identified - if only by when the U.S. army destroyed them. Historic roads, including the National Road, are illustrated, underscoring Indiana's place near the center of the United States.

Modern sites are also noted, including the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indiana State Capital. State forests, state parks, monuments, and other public lands administered by the Department of Conservation are highlighted in yellow.

Publication History and Census

This map was originally drawn by Lee Carter and published in 1932 by the Indiana Department of Conservation. The present example is the revised second edition, published in 1954. At least two subsequent updated editions were published in 1965 and 1967. We note exampels of the present 1954 edition at: Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Indiana University Bloomington, and the David Rumsey Map Collection.