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| National Geographic Maps | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Geographic Maps |
| Type | Cartographic publisher |
| Founded | 1915 |
| Founder | National Geographic Society |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Area served | Global |
| Products | Maps, atlases, globes, GIS datasets |
| Parent organization | National Geographic Society |
National Geographic Maps is the cartographic publishing division established by the National Geographic Society to produce printed and digital maps, atlases, globes, and geographic reference materials. It has supplied field maps for expeditions, classroom atlases for schools, and commercial wall maps used by institutions, explorers, and travelers. The division evolved alongside advances in printing, satellite imagery, and geographic information systems, influencing cartography in the United States and internationally.
The origins trace to the founding of the National Geographic Society in 1888 and the early map supplements in National Geographic (magazine), which documented explorations by figures associated with Roald Amundsen, Robert Peary, and Jacques-Yves Cousteau. Formalization of a dedicated mapping program accelerated during the 20th century amid collaborations with the U.S. Geological Survey, the Royal Geographical Society, and the Smithsonian Institution. During World War II and the Cold War era, the organization produced atlases and thematic maps that paralleled work by the Army Map Service, the Office of Strategic Services, and cartographers connected to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Postwar publications integrated aerial photography from projects like Operation Highjump and remote sensing initiatives related to Landsat. In the late 20th century, partnerships with publishers such as Random House and educational initiatives involving the U.S. Department of Education expanded distribution into classrooms and libraries. The transition to digital workstreams involved integrations with projects from Esri and data sources tied to United Nations Environment Programme and NASA.
Offerings span wall maps, travel maps, field guides, atlases, globes, and educational map sets. Signature titles have included world atlases used by institutions alongside regional atlases highlighting regions such as Antarctica, Amazon River, and the Himalayas. The product line has provided expedition maps for teams linked to Sir Edmund Hillary, marine charts for voyages associated with Jacques Cousteau, and historical cartography supplements documenting events like the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the California Gold Rush. School atlases were adopted in curricula influenced by standards from organizations like National Council for Geographic Education and referenced in publications by Oxford University Press and HarperCollins. Specialized products have mapped themes such as biodiversity with data from World Wildlife Fund, climate patterns incorporating research by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and cultural landscapes referencing work by the Smithsonian Institution and British Museum.
The division is known for photographic map bases, richly textured relief shading, and thematic legend design that echo cartographic traditions found in atlases produced by Rand McNally and The Times Atlas of the World. Cartographic techniques employed include shaded relief influenced by practices in Harvard University geography labs, hypsometric tinting used by researchers at University of Cambridge, and map projection choices debated in forums of the International Cartographic Association and the American Geographical Society. Symbolization conventions draw on standards promulgated by the International Organization for Standardization and align with cartographic scholarship from figures associated with Michigan State University and University of California, Berkeley. The editorial process incorporated satellite-derived landcover from MODIS and elevation models comparable to datasets from the National Elevation Dataset.
Print distribution networks used partnerships with retailers such as Barnes & Noble, museum shops like those at the American Museum of Natural History, and educational distributors servicing school districts overseen by state departments in California, Texas, and New York. Licensing arrangements have enabled map imagery and datasets to appear in textbooks by Pearson Education and magazines including Time (magazine), and to be licensed for use by broadcasters like BBC and National Public Radio. Institutional licensing has supplied geographic content for projects at UNESCO and non-governmental efforts by Conservation International. Commercial licensing also extended to wall maps displayed in corporate offices of entities such as Microsoft and Google.
Adoption of digital cartography included vector and raster map tiles and GIS-ready datasets compatible with platforms from Esri and QGIS. Integration projects leveraged satellite archives from Landsat and Sentinel missions and geospatial metadata standards promoted by Open Geospatial Consortium. Digital products provide interactive mapping similar to services offered by Google Maps and mapping APIs used by developers at firms like Mapbox. The group participated in efforts to publish georeferenced historical map collections for research libraries such as Library of Congress and collaborated with academic consortia at University of Oxford to enable spatial analysis using data standards from the Digital Public Library of America.
Collaborations extended to scientific institutions, conservation organizations, and publishers. Research partnerships included work with Smithsonian Institution scientists, biodiversity mapping with Conservation International and World Wildlife Fund, and climate visualization projects tied to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments. Educational outreach involved alliances with National Science Teachers Association and museums including Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and American Museum of Natural History. Publishing partnerships included licensing and co-branded products involving Random House, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and academic presses such as Cambridge University Press.
Maps and atlases have received honors from professional bodies such as the American Cartographic Association and design awards presented by the Society for News Design and the International Map Industry Association. Specific recognitions include accolades in cartographic competitions administered by the International Cartographic Association and features in exhibitions at institutions like the Royal Geographical Society and the Library of Congress. Publication quality has been noted in reviews by periodicals including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and journals associated with Annals of the Association of American Geographers.
Category:Cartography Category:Publishing companies of the United States