X Marks the Spot! Historical Maps of Wisconsin – The Look Back – PBS Wisconsin Education

What can maps tell us about the early history of European explorers and traders in and around Wisconsin?

Early historical maps of the Great Lakes area in the American Geographical Society Library show how European nations explored and understood this region. These maps also show how Europeans’ knowledge of the area around Wisconsin changed over time. Learn from an expert map librarian how to read and use maps for historical research.

Let's take a look

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Questions to consider

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What makes a map, a map? Have you ever used or made a map? If you have, what did it include and why?

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What does scale have to do with maps, and why is it important? What are the different ways to demonstrate scale?

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What stands out about the early maps of the area that include Wisconsin? What do the maps tell us about the people who made them?

Meet the historians

Sergio González

Sergio González

History Professor

I research and teach about the history of Latinos in the Midwest.

Sergio González

Sergio González

History Professor

Absolutely! I’m a big fan of cartography—the mapping of uncharted territories—and believe strongly in double-checking the work of Magellan, Cortés, and NASA.

I always carry a sextant, chronometer, and three astrolabes in my pocket, so I’m never in danger of getting lost.

Well, there are so many to choose from, but I’ll have to go with a classic – Eratosthenes, one of the OGs (Original Geographers), and his map of the known world from 194 BC.

Cat Phan

Cat Phan

Digital Archivist

I take care of photos and videos and sound recordings so they last for a long time into the future!

Cat Phan

Digital Archivist

I used to but now my phone tells me where to turn and I believe it.

Phone a friend.

I’m pretty fond of maps included with fantasy books. A great way to imagine yourself in that make-believe world.

Georgia Brown

Georgia Brown

Librarian

I help people with their research about maps, atlases, photographs and more.

Georgia Brown

Librarian

Yes! Growing up in my family, I was the unofficial official navigator of road trips.

I find the most identifiable feature around me—a road, a river—and see if I can work my way back from there.

My favorite map shows the geologic timeline of the Mississippi River.

Librarian Georgia Brown discussing maps in a library with globes visible in the background

“Pretty much as long as we know about history, people have been using maps.”

Georgia Brown

Episode credits

Producer
David Boffa

Hosts
Sergio González
Cat Phan

Special Guest
Georgia Brown

Research and Writing
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich
Ryan Hendricks

Videography
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich

Editing
Ian Glodich
David Boffa

Captioning
Catie Pfeifer

Translation Services
Rev

Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Jen Kobylecky

Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy

Web Development
John Vieth

Graphic and Motion Design
Danielle Riseley
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich

Additional Production Support
Kerman Eckes

Executive Producer
Ryan Hendricks

Director of Education
Megan Monday

Director of Television
Jon Miskowski

Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
UW–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society

Special Thanks
American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries

Funding provided by

Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout

Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family

Focus Fund for Education

Friends of PBS Wisconsin