Geognostische Karte der Nord-Americanischen Freistaaten

An interesting geological map of the United States showing early boundaries for the newly-established territories of Minnesota, New Mexico, and Upper California. The New Mexico Territory (est. 1850) incorporates all of Arizona and New Mexico, along with parts of Nevada and Colorado. The Utah Territory is named on the map, but not specifically outlined: it includes most of Nevada and Utah, with parts of Colorado. The Oregon Territory covers all of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

The Gold regions of California are coloured in bright yellow. Twenty other geological strata and rock types are identified according to the legend below the map. Geological surveys were generally limited to the states east of the Mississippi at this time, though some progress had been made in surveying parts of Oklahoma, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

Some early railroads are marked on the map, as are the Santa Fe Trail and John C. Fremont's route to California, both important wagon routes for settlers heading west. A large number of Native American tribes are noted on the map as well, some in their ancestral homelands, others in forced reservations.

Original hand colour. [USA9941]