Pre-1824 Maps

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  1776 - Nuove Scoperte dé Russi al Nord el Mare del Sud sí nell'Asia, che nell'America

  Antonio Zatta’s 1776 map of the Northwest and Northeast coasts of North America and Asia, includes the region from the Hudson Bay and Great Lakes westward extending eastward to Siberia and from Cabo San Lucas on the California Baja Peninsula to as far north as Japan and the Artic. In addition to using misunderstood or mythical landmarks such as the Kingdom of Anian and the Chinese colony, Fou Sang, the map depicts the “River of the West” flowing from Hudson Bay to the Pacific Ocean representing the Northwest Passage. Zatta merged virtually every 17^th and 18^th century myth, fabrication and fact concerning the American West into one map. Much of the factually inaccurate information appears to be based on a legend first appearing in 1706 in an English magazine entitled, “Memoirs of the Curious” that described the purported travels of Spanish Admiral Bartholomew de Fonte. The map’s cartouche depicts an island with tropical animals that include a crocodile, an elephant, a rhinoceros and an ostrich.

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  1776 - Plano del Puerto de San Francisco

  An early detailed map of the San Francisco Bay based on the information acquired by Jose de Cañizares during his exploration of the Bay in 1775 and 1776. Because of the competing interest of England and Russia with Spain for domination of the Pacific Coast, Viceroy Burcareli of New Spain ordered that a fort be established at the Port of San Francisco. Juan Manuel de Ayala, who was in command and master of the ship, San Carlos, had orders to survey the port of San Francisco in conjunction with the land expedition from Sonora under Captain Juan Bautista de Anza who was bringing colonists and supplies for the new outpost. Ayala, brought his ship through the Golden Gate on August 4, 1755. Jose de Cañizares, the first sailing master on the San Carlos, drew an initial chart based upon their 1775 exploration of the Bay. Returning in 1776 as Captain of the San Carolos, Cañzares drew a second chart using a sounding line and compass blended with his personal observations. The chart also shows the proposed location of the new presidio and mission.

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  1776 - Plan of the Presidio of San Francisco established at the port of the same name in August of the current year of 1776 by Don Jose Joaquin Moraga

  Jose Joaquin Moraga’s plan for the new San Francisco Presidio. All this construction was of palisade and mud, except for the Sergeant's house which is made of stone. This plan called for an enclosure ninety-two Varas, or two hundred and fifty-three feet, square. Structures inside the enclosure included: (1) a storage room for goods of His Majesty; (2) a guard house; (3) a magazine room for extra gun powder supply; (4)the chapel; (5) the commandant's house; (6) sergeant's house; (7) a house for the 1st Corporal; (8) a house for 2nd Corporal; (9) the cattle corral; and (10) the soldiers' and settlers' rooms. Moraga was second in command to Juan Bautista de Anza in the 1776 overland colonizing expedition from the region of Alta California which would become part of southern Arizona and northern Mexico, to what is now San Francisco, California. When de Anza returned south in 1777, Moraga was left in charge of efforts to build housing for the colonists and a military headquarters, the Presidio of San Francisco. Presidio de San Francisco became the northernmost fortress of the Spanish colonization network. The presidio's role was to protect the frontier from foreign invaders.

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  1777 - Carte de la Californie : suivant I. la Carte manuscrite de l'Amérique de Mathieu Néron Pecci olen dresses à Florence en 1604, II. Sanson 1656, III. De l'Isle Amérique Sept. 1700, IV. le Pere Kino Jesuite en 1705, V. la Société des Jésuites en 1767.

  This 1777 map shows five early cartographic perceptions of California and the Gulf of California; Islands, settlements, areas of Native American housing, and notable physical features. Includes some dates of discovery, ranging from roughly 1604 to 1767. The map explores California cartography in the late 18 ^th century. The 1604 map correctly presumed that the main body of California extended southward to a peninsula. The 1656 map shows California as an island. The 1700 map reattaches California to the mainland. The 1705 map rendered by a Jesuit missionary c. 1705 finally disproved that California was a separate island. The final 176 map depicts with a reasonable accuracy of the Baja California peninsula.

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  1779 - Plano de la insigne Entrada de Bucarely, en la Costa Septentrional de la California

  On February 11, 1779, two vessels, the Princesa and the Favorita, commanded by Ignacio de Arteaga and Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, set sail launching Spain’s third expedition from San Blas, Mexico, to Nueva Galicia (the Pacific Northwest). Their orders were to sail far from the coastline and aim for 70° north latitude and to take formal possession of the land from 50° to 70° north latitude. After an 81-day voyage, they set anchor in the entrance of Puerto de Bucareli situated 55° 17' north latitude on May 3, 1779. They spent six weeks exploring the coastal area and preparing detailed charts of the coastline and many waterways meandering between the islands.

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  1782 - Plano del Puerto de S. Diego

  The chart of the Port of San Diego is based on a manuscript map made by Juan Pantoja y Arriaga during a seven-week exploration of the bay between August 21 and September 28, 1782. The chart was revised in 1786 with the addition of the Notes. It depicts the San Diego Bay and surrounding area, including the mission, presidio, ranches and soundings. It is thought to be the first reliable map of the bay. This map was Number 5 in the Atlas for the Voyage of the Subtle and Mexican Schooners to the Recognition of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in 1792, published in 1802. Not only did the language of the 1849 Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty specifically incorporate the Pantoja Plan of the Port of San Diego into the treaty, a copy “signed and sealed by the respective plenipotentiaries” was annexed to the treaty. The first version of Pantoja map (without the added notes) was used by the Mexican and United States governments to establish the international boundary line south of the San Diego Bay. The precise location of the boundary between the two countries was marked in red ink on the Pantoja and signed by three Mexican representatives and the U.S. Commissioner, with an official seal affixed to it.

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  1783 - New Map of North America with West India Islands, divided according to the Preliminary Articles of Peace, Signed at Versailles, 20, Jan. 1783, wherein are particularly Distinguished The United States, and the Several Provinces, Governments & ca which Compose the British Dominions, Laid down according to the Latest Surveys, and Corrected from the Original Materials of Goverr. Pownall, Membr. of Parlimnt.

  The map was originally published in 1755 and subsequently updated numerous times as more land was explored and land ownership changed. It includes text at the top right corner setting forth the fishing rights of the United States. The lower left corner contains an insert is entitled: “A Passage By Land to California.” An upper left corner insert is entitled: “A Particular map of Baffin and Hudson’s Bay.” Extensive comments by Pownall regarding the lands and territories between the Apalachean (sic) Mountains and the Mississippi River regarding indigenous tribes, sites suitable for factories, alliances and temperaments of tribes and the navigability of river systems. The map was printed for Saver and Bennett in London “as the Act directs” on August 15, 1783.

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  1785 - Messico ovvero Nuova Spagna che contiene il Nuova Messico la California con una parte de’paesi adjacenti

  Early map published in Venice, Issued in Presso Antonio Zatta’s four volume atlas entitled Atlante Novissimo, depicts the Southern region of the United States, Mexico and Central America. It shows political divisions, cities, towns, coastal towns, mountains and rivers. Several indigenous tribes are noted in the plains, including, among others, the Kansez, Osages, Cheraquis, Cascaquas, Aacansas, Chicachas, Natchitoches, Tchatas, Choumas and Apacharia.

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  1786 - A new map of the whole continent of America - divided into North and South and West Indies where they are exactly Described in United States of North America as well as the Several European Possessions according to the Preliminaries of Peace signed at Versailles, Jan 20, 1783

  An early map that depicted both the North and South Americans along with the West Indies. It provides a glaring contrast between the known and unknown regions, with the Eastern parts of North America quite well understood, while the mythical River of the West was still shown as a continuous water course from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The map reflects the United States following the American Revolutionary War and included the addition of Spanish discoveries north of Baja California in what has been described as “fantastically detailed” topographical and geographical features. Included on this map is the often-disputed Chinese colony, Fou Sang, thought to have been settled c. 220 BC. The depiction of South America was largely based in part on the then recently published Juan de la Cruz Cano y Olmedilla’s 1775 map of South America, Mapa Geográfico De America Meridional.” The map includes an inset of northern Canada depicting the Hudson and Baffin Bays. It also includes a listing of United States and European political land holdings.

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  1787 – Californias: Antigua y Nueva - Diego Troncoso Sc. Mexico

  Believed to be the earliest map to locate missions in Alta California, as well as El Camino Real –The King’s Highway—that connection the missions. The map also shows the four Presidios located at San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Francisco. The map is thought to be the first map to depict the administrative borderline between the two Californias established by Francisco Palóu between the Franciscan and Dominican jurisdictions in 1774. Although there are some geographical inaccuracies, the map reflects islands, ports and rivers along the coastal region of California. A version of this map that included an ornate cartouche with a crown on top and the printed notation, Mar Pacifico, was included in the 1787 publication entitled, Relación histórica de la vida y apostólicas tareas del Venerable Padre Fray Junípero Serra, y de las misiones que fundó en la California septentrional, y nuevos establecimientos de Monterey.

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  1790 – Carte de la Mer Pacifiquen, du Nord, contenant la Cote Nord-Est D’Aise et la Cote Nord-Ouest D’Amérique reconnues en 1778 et 79 par le Cap. Cook, et plus particulierement encore en 1788 et 89 par le Cap. Jean Meares

  A map depicting the northern regions of the Pacific Ocean by Jean Meares. The map reflects areas from Central Asia to Baja California but mainly focuses on the tracks of various explorers throughout the Northwest, Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, Western Pacific and Southeast Asia. The map traces routes taken by Captain James Cook in his third and final voyage between 1778 and 1779. The map also traces the courses taken in 1788 and 1789 by ships owned by British citizen, Captain Jean Meares who was perceived by some to be less than scrupulous in his words and deeds. Cook’s experience in the Pacific brought to light that there was an opportunity to make a fortune in the fur trade. This ultimately lead to legitimate and questionable fur trading by competing European interests, largely with the Chinese. Meares registered his ships in Macau, a Portuguese colony in China. The ships bore Portuguese names, “Iphigenia Nubiana” and “Felice Adventurero,” and were licensed under the Portuguese flag thus allowing Meares to circumvent the requirement that British traders be licensed by and pay duties to the East India Company. The fact that this is a French map suggests that it was most likely published in 1790 in a four volume French version of his English publication, “Voyages Made in the Years 1788 and 1789.” Meares included maps and plats in volume 4 of the French edition.

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  1791 - Costa N.O. de la Ámerica Septentrional: Plano de la Ensenaday Puto de Monterrey situado en la Latitd. N 36°-36’ y el Longitud de 115°-90'-20''. Occidentl. de Cadiz / Levantado por las Corvetas de S.M. Descubierta y Atrevida

  This map was created as a part of a five-year maritime scientific exploration made by Alessandro Malaspina and José de Bustamante y Guerra in Spanish corvettes Atrevida and Descubierta. The multifaceted journey included a search for the Northwest Passage. The map depicts the Central California coastline from Ano Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area south to Point Lobos. Malaspina arrived in Monterey Bay on September 11, 1791 where he and the scientists who accompanied him recorded their observations and made nautical sounding along the coast.

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  1792 – Número 1°, Carta Esferica de los Reconocimientos Hechos en la Costa N.O. de América en 1791 y 92 por las Goletas Sutil y Mexicana

  Published in 1802, the map was included in an atlas entitled, Atlas Para el Viage de las Goletas Sutil y Mexicana el Reconocimiento del Estrecho de Juan de Fuca en 1792. The atlas accompanied an account of the expedition entitled, Relación del viaje hecho por las goletas Sutil y mexicanas en el año de 1792 para reconocer el Estrecho de Fuca; con una introducción en la que se dan noticias de las expediciones previamente ejecutadas por los españoles en busca del paso del noroeste de la América. The map depicts landmarks from Acapulco to Cape Perpetua, north of Cape Mendocino. The expedition was the last made by the Spanish to the Northwest Coast. The two vessels, Sutil and Mexicana, departed Acapulco on March 8, 1792, arrived at the Spanish post at Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island on May 12, 1792, in search for the water passage between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. They returned to San Blas on November 25, 1792. The outcome of this expedition was the conclusion that a water passage south of Cook Inlet did not exist.

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  1795 c. – Mapa de la Nueva California al exmo Señor Principe De La Paz

  A map of Nueva Califorina dedicated to the “Prince of Peace” (Principe de la Paz), a title given to Manuel Godoy y Álvarez de Faria in 1795 who began his career in 1788 as guard of the Corps and by 1792 was no less than Duke of Alcudia, Great of Spain and Secretary of State. From this dedication, the 1795 date has been attributed to the map. This map reflects the coastal area of Nueve California but provides little detail of its interior. The exploration routes taken by P. Gracés and Juan Bautista de Auza in 1775 are depicted. The note at the top of the map indicates that the map is largely based on the observations of the missionaries and other travelers.

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  1797 c. - Mar Grande de San. Blas

  This undated, hand-drawn map reflects the coastline beginning in the northern portion of the Baja Peninsula going as far north as Puerto de la Bodega. It shows the approximate location of the 18 missions established in Alta California by 1797. It does not show missions located north of the San Francisco Bay – San Rafael Arcángel and San Francisco de Solano established in 1817 and 1823 respectively. Mission San Luis Rey de Francia established in 1798 and located north of San Diego is not shown on the map, hence one can extrapolate that the map was probably created in late 1797. The map depicts with single small squares the four presidios located in San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey and San Francisco. The missions and presidios have been assigned an alphabetical designation suggesting that a legend had been or was going to be prepared that would accompany the map or be placed on the face of the map. There are two symbols consisting of a group of small squares that are assigned numerical designations “1” and “2” – one located near Mission Santa Clara de Asís and the other located between missions San Fernando Rey de España and San Gabriel Arcángel.

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  1797 - Plan De La Baie De Monterey, Situee Dans La Calife Septentrionale

  A first edition 1797 plan of Monterey Bay, California, by Jean Francois Galaup de La Pérouse who arrived in Monterey Bay in September 1786 where he remained for several days surveying the region. The map was included in a detailed accounting of La Pérouse’s explorations in the Pacific Ocean as Plate 34. The report published in 1797 was entitled, Voyage de la Pérouse Around the World, Published in accordance with the Decree of April 22, 1791, and Written by MLA Milet-Mureau, General of Brigade in the Corps of Genius, Director of Fortifications, Ex-Constituent, Member of several Literary Societies of Paris, detailing the explorations of La Pérouse between 1785 and 1788.

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  1797 - Plan du Port de St. Francois, situe sur la cote de la Californie Septentrional

  A 1797 map of the San Francisco Bay area ascribed to Jean Francois de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse. Lapérouse headed up a French expedition aimed at completing the Pacific discoveries of James Cook, correcting and complete maps of the region, establishing trade contacts, opening new maritime routes and enriching French science and scientific collections. He was to explore both the north and south Pacific, including costs of the Far East and Australia, and to send back reports through existing European outpost in the Pacific. Explorations began in 1785 with his last recorded landfall being in Australia in March 1788. In September 1786, Lapérouse stopped by the San Francisco Bay long enough to create an outline map of the region. This map was reproduced as Map 33 in L. Aubert’s 1787 Atlas du voyage de La Pérouse. The map identifies 21 place names that included Alcatraz, the Presidio of San Francisco, Point Reyes, the Mission de San Francisco and the Farallonne Islands. Lapérouse did not survey the region himself but most likely based his map on the maps of the area by earlier cartographers (1776-1785).

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  1797 - Plan du Port en St. Diego in Californie, 1782 - Plan du Port de St. Blas, 1777

  The two maps by Jean-Francois de la Perouse are based on surveys made by Juan Pantoja y Arriaga, a captain of the Manila trade for Spain. Derived from Pantoja's manuscript, the charts were published after his death in the "Atlas du Voyage de la Perouse 1785-1788". Locations identified around San Diego, California included: Presidio de St. Diego, the 'faux port', Pointe des Morts, Rancherie de las Choyas, Pointe St. Augustin, Rancherie ou Village d'Indiens nomme de la Pointe, Pointe St. Joseph, Pointe St. Michel, Petite Port de St Jean, Pointe Guizarros, and Pointe de la Colline. Port de San Blas was used by Spain's Navy as a naval base beginning in 1768 and it served for several decades as a base of operations for Spanish expeditions to the Pacific Northwest, as well as for supplying the Spanish missions.

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  17__ - Plano de Punta Escondida y del islote de Cayo Escondido en la parte suroriental de la Baja California

  An undated, incomplete chart missing the upper half where there most likely was a population plan and index that corresponded to the alphabetical notations on the map. It is missing any type of cartouche or legend describing the chart. The title was derived from the content of the map. It appears to be a plan of Puerto Escondido and the islet of Cayo Escondido located in the southeastern part of Baja California, Mexico, some 15 miles south of Loreto on the Sea of Cortez. The chart focuses on topography, reflected by the relief represented by contour lines, as opposed to the port itself in terms of depth. Puerto Escondido is well-known as a natural harbor protected from the strong northeast winds.

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  1804 - Map of the Kingdom of New Spain

  This 1804 map of the Kingdom of New Spain provides a general overview of the Spanish lands from the parallel of 16° to 38° North. The map author was Alexandre Du Humboldt.

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  1807- A Map of the Internal Provinces of New Spain

  The 1807 map of New Spain stretches from the Baja Peninsula to Nacogdoches in the east and depicts the provincial boundaries, capitals of provinces or kingdoms, Indian and Spanish villages, and the American Troops route.

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  1816 - Mapa de toda la Frontera de los dominios del Rey en la America septentrional

  This 1816 Spanish map of the internal provinces of New Spain (Mexico and U.S. Southwest) includes streams, pictorial representation of mountain ranges, administrative boundaries, presidios, European and Native American settlements, mines, missions, coastline, and coastal features. Map also includes a detailed index to cultural features. This map is a composite prepared from those produced by Urrútia and Lafora based on their 1766-1768 expedition to survey presidios and defenses of Northern New Spain. A note on map reads "Cop. Mexico 7 de Agosto de 1816".

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  1823 - Carta Esferica de los Territorios de la Alta y baja Californias y Estado de Sonora – from Army Archives in Madrid Spain

  A detailed 1823 map was prepared by José María Narváez, a well-known Mexican mariner, engineer, and cartographer. The map extends from the Rio Grande westward to include northwestern Mexico, Baja and Alta California, as well as Mexican territory in what became Arizona and New Mexico. The map shows the Pacific coastline, the lands inhabited by different Indian tribes, and the route of the 1775 expedition of Juan Bautista de Anza from Monterrey, Mexico, to California and back. Red lines demarcate the boundaries between Alta (Upper) and Baja (Lower) California and between the four districts of Alta California (San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and San Francisco). Symbols used indicate presidios, haciendas, ranches, mines, sources of water, cities, towns, and pueblos. A table in the lower-left corner, lists the missions and the number of their neophytes at the mission and within the districts. The map is especially valuable because it reflects the territories inhabited by the different Indian tribes of the region.

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  1823 - Carta esferica de los territorios de la alta y baja Californias y estado de Sonora from US Library of Congress.

  A detailed 1823 map was prepared by José María Narváez, a well-known Mexican mariner, engineer, and cartographer. The map extends from the Rio Grande westward to include northwestern Mexico, Baja and Alta California, as well as Mexican territory in what became Arizona and New Mexico. The map shows the Pacific coastline, the lands inhabited by different Indian tribes, and the route of the 1775 expedition of Juan Bautista de Anza from Monterrey, Mexico, to California and back. Red lines demarcate the boundaries between Alta (Upper) and Baja (Lower) California and between the four districts of Alta California (San Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and San Francisco). Symbols used indicate presidios, haciendas, ranches, mines, sources of water, cities, towns, and pueblos. A table in the lower-left corner, lists the missions and the number of their neophytes at the mission and within the districts. The map is especially valuable because it reflects the territories inhabited by the different Indian tribes of the region

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  1824 - German Map of Mexico with new listing of Mexican states

  An 1824 map published by the Geographic Institute in Weimar, Germany. The map of Mexico is a new listing of the Mexican states. It also contains an insert depicting New California. Beneath the map is a chart reflecting the area and population of each state.