United States
Cartographer:
Melish, John
Date of Creation:
1816
United States, John Melish, 1816
Map of the United States of America : with the contiguous British and Spanish possessions / compiled from the latest & best authorities by John Melish. Philadelphia, 1816. Separate publication.
John Melish's map brought together the works of Lewis & Clark, Humboldt, Pike, and Arrowsmith. Melish’s map quickly became a map of record in same sense that John Mitchell’s map of 1755 (on display in the museum) had in its day.
The map, in retrospect, can be seen as an open slate for the conviction of “manifest destiny” that would empower the citizens of the new United States to push westward.
