This map is an astonishingly detailed review of the political and territorial developments
in the first 60 years of the new American republic including the first 25 American states shown along with their capitals and principal towns. The Natchez Trace through Mississippi and the National Road (Grande Route Nationale stretching as far west as St. Louis) are recorded, as are the Erie, Washington, Michigan and Ohio canals. In the far west, parts of California and Nevada are marked as Lands Unknown. While the coast of California was explored, the interior remained primarily untouched. The port of Sir Francis Drake (San Francisco) and Fort Astoria, where Lewis & Clark reached the shores of the Pacific Ocean, are among the handful of settlements noted. Ft. Dearborn which would become Chicago is shown, and Mount Vernon is recorded as the home and burial place of George Washington.
Territorial possessions of the United States, including Florida, Oregon, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin are marked. Several have detailed inscriptions – such as the one marked as Missouri Territory in the area that was originally the Louisiana Purchase. The inscription reads: The area of the Union is ten times bigger than France and could easily sustain 300 to 400 million inhabitants... What can its destiny be?
Of special importance is the notation of the Republic of Texas on the face of the map, along with a unique inscription: Founded by the American Austin, consecrated in 1835 by the General Houston at San Jacinto, where Santa Anna, President of Mexico, was made prisoner.
The headquarters for Austin’s Colony, San Felipe, is marked as is the new national capital of Austin and the battlegrounds of the Alamo, Goliad and San Jacinto.
