Hark! Do not fear the Map Library is here! We have everything you need to claim a mighty victory in your next Dungeons and Dragons game! Learn how to create elaborate fantasy maps and imagined worlds through our very own collections of maps, books, and more!
This year marks the 250th anniversary of American Independence!
This map represents the United States after the 1783 Peace Treaty signing, putting an end to the hard-fought Revolutionary War.
Map: G3701 .S3 1957 .S5
Happy Black History Month! At the Map Library, we are excited to highlight Black excellence from around the world. Our new exhibition, “Mapping Heritage: Arts & Culture” explores just that! Come check it out and expand your knowledge during this significant month!
The Shakespeare Map, created by Dr. Levi Fox in 1970 highlights Shakespeare’s birthplace Stratford, along with other significant locations connected to his life and career.
If you’re curious to explore more of Shakespeare’s historical sites, come visit!
Map: G5754.S85A8 1970 .F6
Be sure to visit our new exhibition: Fantastic Voyages!
All semester long, we will feature different fantasy adventures highlighted through our maps! We hope we have some UIUC Hobbit fans, because our first exhibition showcases maps and books of the lands of Middle Earth!
Welcome back UIUC! As you began classes, remember to take a visit to the Map Library for a place to study and discover loads of fun maps.
We are open Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5pm, and located on the 4th floor of the Main Library. Hope to see you soon and we wish you a wonderful spring semester!
UIUC! You’ve made it through finals—now it’s time to enjoy a well-deserved break!
Please note that the Map Library will be closed from December 24-January 4. However, be sure to visit us in the new year! We’ll be open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Happy Holidays!
The 1890 linguistic map was created under the direction of John Wesley Powell, a pioneering ethnologist and the first Director of the U.S. Bureau of Ethnology. This map reflects Powell’s extensive efforts to classify Native American languages and advance ethnographic research.
Happy Indigenous Peoples Month!
This month, we highlight a powerful illustrated map created by Michael McArdle-Nakoma, published in 2012.
We also invite you to explore our exhibition, Mapping Indigenous Peoples and Cultures!
Reference: curtiswrightmaps.com/product/nati...
![The illustration of the Graet European War No. 16 / [Ryōzō Tanaka]
A pictorial map of Europe, Asia, and half of Africa with animals representing the areas: Japan (the samurai), China (the pig), and Russia (the bear)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:3fpa7rd23c3vtg7shcemfih7/bafkreihjrnk6owtb5e2qvq2d34jhf5qsr2wovarxoj4hjplpwu7dnofcvi)
This week, we honor all who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Their courage and sacrifice protect the freedoms we cherish, and we are proud to recognize them as our heroes.
The featured World War I maps are from the Map Library’s own digital collection!
All aboard! The Crazy Touring Train of Ozzy Osbourne has arrived at the Map Library! The map showcases the cities around the world where Ozzy Osbourne has rocked the stage most often.
This map was created by @Kennthfield, a contribution to his legacy.
Map: G3201.A85 2025 .F53
![[Map: G3701. E63 1938 .C53]
This Map is an 1938 Albert Richard football map. It is a multicolored pictorial representation of the U.S football teams within each conference section of the country. It also has the official nicknames of all of the football teams in the country. The map is bordered by the team flags, while images of a stadium, tickets, and a kicker are placed around the country.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:3fpa7rd23c3vtg7shcemfih7/bafkreieluiwa5nxndmv7j3kgryv24ys2w4vm2eb6rqhhvxin2wsl5dvn2u)
It’s Football Season! Another game, another win!
In the spirit of football, check out our 1938 Albert Richard Football map! This map showcases college football teams around the country, major conferences held, and the nicknames of all the teams.
Can you spot our UIUC football team?
It finals week! I know this is a stressful time for everyone but the Map Library has your back! We are open 8:30am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Come visit for an open space to study solo, or even in groups! We would love to have you and good luck to everyone!
Well, On May 8, 1886, Dr. John Stith Pemberton served the first glass of Coca-Cola at Jacobs' Pharmacy in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. As you can see on the map, Coca-Cola consumption has sky-rocketed across the world since then. Drink a bottle in appreciation of this anniversary!
April showers bring May flowers-or so they say! Rain has still been showering down but don’t worry flowers are too sprouting everywhere you look! This map displays a world of beautiful flowers to encourage you during this spring season. Which flower is your favorite?
Map: G3201.D2 1972 .J6
Are you ready for some Map Library Trivia? Here are 3 questions about our library’s history and collections. Lets see how much you know!
The answers are located on the last slide!
It’s Jazz Appreciation Month! This map presents the origin of many of the legendary artists in none other than Queens, New York! Celebrate the vibrant history by popping on some Ella Fitzgerald or John Coltrane and “JAM” out to the great musical icons!
It’s tornado season! This map displays the tornadoes that hit areas of Chicago from 1876-1976. It also reveals that in the month of April, tornadoes were at their highest, especially during the evenings. This is almost identical to the occurrences today, almost 50 years later!
G4104.C6C86 1976 .C6
I hope you had a great first week back! Treat yourself to a visit to the Map Library and discover a series of captivating maps!
We are open Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5pm, and located on the 4th floor of the Main Library. Hope to see you soon!
Happy Spring Break! Did you know the most popular place to go for Spring Break is Florida? It is such an iconic place that treasure is even known to be found there! This map shows all of the treasure in the state, dating back to the 1500s, so you could even search to find it!
150 years ago, UIUC opened for students That’s right, on March 2, 1868, the University of Illinois had its first day of classes! The opening class consisted of only 77 students and two faculty members!
This map is a comical version of the olden-day campus.
The first Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans was recorded in February 1837! In our own appreciation of Mardi Gras, here is a vibrant map of New Orleans dating back to 1972! Bring the party over to the Map Library as you come to check them out!
Map: G4014.N5A5 1972 .T72
Let’s hold space for the classic musical, based off the legendary Wizard of Oz in 1939! This map displays the journey taken by each character in the Wizard of Oz! Follow along the paths and decide which character you would want to accompany!
Hope a path leads you to our library!
The Map Library has you covered for all things love! With this map you can learn about love languages through history and how it has been expressed around the world! We have plenty of love to share so don’t be shy to come visit!
It’s Black History Month! Come check out our special exhibit that displays the culture and history of black communities around the world! We have a plethora of books, maps, and art all to encourage the understanding of this significant month!
February 6, 1971, Alan Shephard, apart of mission Apollo 14, made history for the only person to hit golf balls on the moon! If you had the chance, what would you want to be the first to do on the moon?
Image: map of the moon and its lunar formations in 1971. G3196.A4 1959.S81
Welcome back UIUC! Hope you had a great start of the semester! Stay as warm as you can and come visit, Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5pm, to explore our unique maps!
On my desk today -- 3 different editions of the same atlas with no easily identified differences except for the edition statement and no publication date!
On my desk today: Total Eclipse by @kennethfield.bsky.social It made it back to Champaign safely from #NACIS2024 in Tacoma ... but a month later still is a little bit curled from being rolled in my suitcase.
On my desk today -- to catalog and add to the collection. We collect data-driven maps fairly aggressively from @nytimes.com and @washingtonpost.com but maps appear rarely in the local paper.
