From Colonialism to Tourism: Maps in American Culture

Maps of war, whether official military maps or commercial renderings, varied greatly. They depicted battlefields, strategic logistical points, and other relevant geographic information related to battle. They were visual guideposts for armies who were often traveling through foreign lands. And maps helped those on the home front better comprehend the news they read in the their daily papers and loved ones’ letters.

After the war these maps became sources of historical information, representing the brutal events that had occurred throughout the country. In the years and decades following the war, maps began to glorify famous scenes and commemorate battles and military leaders on both sides of the conflict. These maps illustrate how the country’s perspective changed and memory of the war’s horrors would diminish over time.