This map, which belongs to the University of Texas at Arlington, is one of more than 12,000 maps in The Portal to Texas History. It was created in 1830 and reveals a very young United States, showing Mexico dominating the southwest and an “unexplored region” in the northwest (now San Francisco). The Portal has many types of maps, including soil surveys, US topographical maps, illustrated bird’s-eye views, and Texas county maps to name a few. Many of them have rarely been seen because of their delicate condition and now are viewed by thousands of people every day through the Portal.

Here’s a tip: most of our maps can be viewed “up close” by using the “zoom” feature to see the tiniest detail. Learn more at https://texashistory.unt.edu/help/guide/viewing_maps/.

–submitted by Tara Carlisle, Project Development Librarian, External Relations