Map-making was very important in the early days of statehood. When Maine separated from Massachusetts, it was not a clean break. Massachusetts still owned some parts of Maine for many years after statehood was granted, and maps were important to distinguish these parcels of land. Much of northern Maine was still forest land and had not been explored; Maine would establish a Land Agent who was responsible for exploring this land and he sent many surveyors to do this work. The maps on display here are from the collection of Land Office maps and were completed by both the Land Agent’s surveyors and surveyors from Massachusetts.

BMC 55--The Province of Maine From the Best Authorities, 1794

Early state of one of the earliest obtainable maps of the Province of Maine. Includes towns, a road from Piscataqua Harbor to Pownalboro, rivers, and mountains. The line between the US and British possessions by Treaty of 1783 is shown.

---