Maps indicate the values held by their makers. Old maps provide a guide to the history & heritage of our region, “The Land of the Oregon Myrtle.”

Early maps of Southwestern Oregon show an interest in gold, transportation, personal safety, relative location and place names.  Sometimes the mapmakers respect historic and native information, sometimes the mapmakers take notice of landmarks, land form and vegetation.  Primarily these maps indicate why the mapmakers came to Oregon and why they might return:

*** for profit, ***for gold,  and eventually ***for a new place to live. 

Maps are far more than cartography, that is maps are more than diagrams and directions.  Maps include analysis and mythos, discovery and belief.  For instance, maps include words and impressions.

Oregon is named for the big winds that blow there. Early explorer maps of Northwest North America are  often marked with Mackenzie’s word Orkan or the French Ouragan which also became the English word hurricane. 

Some comments about the maps from users:   “Very impressive signature on the 1863 map.”  “The prospectors did not tell any more about the lay of their claim than they needed to to file their claims.” “Town names sure change often.  “Empire City!  It is strange to see it ranking notice equivalent to or above any West Coast City other than San Francisco.” “The rivers have changed outflow by miles, the mouth of the Coquille was sometimes way north of Bandon.”