1853 Thayer Pictorial Wall Map of the United States

An appealing and highly decorative 1853 wall map of the United States. Issued by Horace Thayer, this map was drawn and engraved by J. M. Atwood. Coverage embraces the United States from Atlantic to Pacific and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The map illustrates an ephemeral period in the development of the American West with each of its five known editions exhibiting significant changes and updates. The present example, representing the fourth edition, reveals major developments in the American west following the events of the 1849 Gold Rush.

A Closer Look

The Gold Region itself is highlighted with Sacramento and Sutter's City noted. Great Salt Lake is presented in an embryonic form and indicative of the generally poor knowledge of the Great Basin predating the Railroad Surveys being conducted as this map went to press. Salt Lake City itself is identified as 'Utah City of the Great Salt Lake.' The rail lines at this time extended westward no further than the Mississippi River, after which only wagon trails extended to the Pacific. Many of these are noted including the 'Route to Oregon' (the famous Oregon Trail), the 'Route to Santa Fe,' and the southern route from 'Fort Smith to Santa Fe.' Other routes presented are the tracks of Fremont and the 'Great Spanish Trail from Los Angeles to Santa Fe.' Texas shows some development including an embryonic rail system running between Austin and the port of Galveston. Nebraska extends northwards to the Canadian border and both Washington and Oregon have their eastern terminus at the Rocky Mountains. The apocryphal Louis Fork or southern extension of the Columbia River, named after Meriwether Lewis, is shown in southeastern Oregon. American Indian nations are identified throughout. A smaller map of Mexico appears on the lower left quadrant.

The Pictorial Surround

True its descriptive title the map is surrounded by numerous pictorial vignettes illustrating, from the title clockwise: the Presidents of the United States, Perry's Opening of Japan, the Landing of the Pilgrims in 1620, farm tools, the 1846 Battle of Monterrey (Mexican American War), the United States House of Representatives Chamber, an illustration of Justice personified, the signing of the Declaration of Independence (largest illustration, bottom center), a personification of Liberty, the Senate Chamber, the capture of General La Vega 1846 (Mexican American War), weapons and armor, the landing of Columbus 1492, the Constitution and Guerriere (Navy Ships), and again, the Presidents.

Publication History and Census

This map was first issued by Ensign and Thayer in 1847. It was republished by Ensign and Thayer in 1849 (Rumsey 5057), 1850, and 1852 (Rumsey 3508), and then in its present form by Thayer alone in 1853, and again Ensign, Bridgman and Fanning in 1854, and 1855 (Rumsey 265). A final edition by Ensign, Bridgman and Fanning appeared in 1858.