When was the 1:24,000-scale topographic map series for the conterminous 48 States, Hawaii, Alaska and Territories completed?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was created in 1879 and published it’s first topographic map in 1882. Systematic topographic mapping was authorized by Congress in 1884.
Although 1:24,000-scale topographic maps were produced by the USGS as early as 1904, a formal program to provide primary topographic map coverage at that scale for the entire conterminous United States did not begin until 1947.
More than 55,000 maps later, the USGS completed 1:24,000-scale coverage of the conterminous U.S. in 1992 (revisions were made until 2006). Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Trust Territories were completed earlier and were mapped at other scales. All of these maps are included in the Historical Topographic Map Collection.
Download free digital versions of historical USGS topographic maps (as well as more current US Topo maps) or order paper maps from the online USGS Store.
Learn more:
- History of the Topographic Branch
- A 125 year history of topographic mapping and GIS in the USGS (part 1: 1884-1980) | (part 2: 1980-2009)
Related Content
How do I find, download, or order topographic maps?
Where can I find indexes of USGS topographic maps?
What is a topographic map?
There are multiple copies of the same map in your Historical Topographic Map Collection that all have the same date. Is there a difference between those maps?
How current are US Topo maps?
What is a GeoPDF®?
I found an error on a map. How can I report it and when will you fix it?
Can I still get the older topographic maps?
How do US Topo maps differ from historical USGS topographic maps?
Scanning and georeferencing historical USGS quadrangles
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Geospatial Program is scanning published USGS 1:250,000-scale and larger topographic maps printed between 1884, the inception of the topographic mapping program, and 2006. The goal of this project, which began publishing the Historical Topographic Map Collection in 2011, is to provide access to a digital...
Fishburn, Kristin A.; Davis, Larry R.; Allord, Gregory J.
History of the topographic branch (division)
From a very early period of the world's existence, man has endeavored to represent the earth's surface in a graphic form for the information of his fellow men, realizing that no oral or written description is capable of setting forth topographic facts so vividly and so clearly as a map. Mapping of the areas of the United States began with the...
Evans, Richard T.; Frye, Helen M.
Maps for America: cartographic products of the U.S. Geological Survey and others
"Maps for America" was originally published in 1979 as a Centennial Volume commemorating the Geological Survey's hundred years of service (1879 - 1979) in the earth sciences. It was an eminently fitting Centennial Year publication, for, since its establishment, the Geological Survey has continuously carried on an extensive program of mapping to...
Thompson, Morris M.
Topographic instructions of the United States Geological Survey. Introduction
Birdseye, Claude Hale
Topographic instructions of the United States Geological Survey
This book is intended to replace the instructions relating to the topographic work of the United States Geological Survey, issued as a part of the general Survey, instructions of 1903, which are now in many respects obsolete, although revised portions of them have, from time to time, been issued as circular letters or printed leaflets. The several...
Historical Maps at Your Fingertips
Earlier this month, the USGS launched “TopoView 2.1”, an enhancement to the current popular TopoView mapping service that lets users discover, interact, and download historical USGS topographic maps scans.
Finding Yourself Outdoors
Updated USGS digital topographic maps feature more trails and other recreation points of interest
US Topo Story Map – Topographic Maps for the Nation
US Topo Story Map – Topographic Maps for the Nation
Alaska Surveyors Circa 1924
Alaska surveying crew circa 1924 using alidade and plane table; transportation by dogsled. USGS photo files.
US Topo
US Topo is the next generation of topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Arranged in the familiar 7.5-minute quadrangle format, digital US Topo maps are designed to look and feel (and perform) like the traditional paper topographic maps for which the USGS is so well known. In contrast to paper-based maps, US Topo maps provide modern technical advantages
USGS Topographers at Work
USGS topographer with plane table and alidade in the Alabama Hills near Mt. Whitney, California.
USGS Topographer at Work
USGS topographer Russ Curtis using a Wild N3 level.
USGS Topographic Field Party
A mounted topographic field party poses while working on the Dos Cabezas quadrangle in Arizona. 1940-1941. The quadrangle was surveyed by D.H. Rutledge, W.E. Burton, and G.K. Jensen, so it is likely that most or all of them are in this photo.
USGS Topographers at Work
A topographic field party crossing a snowdrift at the head of Grand Creek above their camp near Moose Lake while mapping the Mt. Constance quadrangle in the Olympic Mountains of Washington.
USGS Topographer at Work
Topographer George Stanley Druhot with a plane table and alidade while mapping the Mt. Constance quadrangle on the Olympic Peninsula.
USGS Topographer at Work
Topographer George Stanley Druhot working with a tripod, planetable, and alidade at Kahekili Leap, on the island of Oahu. His two companions are Malcolm Springer and Tai Hai Lau
USGS Topographer at Work
Topographer George Stanley Druhot running a level line on oil-shale cliffs north of the Colorado River. The level line was one mile long and climbed 2,000 feet over talus slopes.
USGS Topographers
USGS topographic field party, circa 1925, with a Wye level on a tripod and two stadia rods.