Measuring & Mapping - Overview
Where, how far, and how much? People have invented an astonishing array of devices to answer seemingly simple questions like these. Measuring and mapping objects in the Museum's collections include the instruments of the famous—Thomas Jefferson's thermometer and a pocket compass used by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their expedition across the American West. A timing device was part of the pioneering motion studies of Eadweard Muybridge in the late 1800s. Time measurement is represented in clocks from simple sundials to precise chronometers for mapping, surveying, and finding longitude. Everyday objects tell part of the story, too, from tape measures and electrical meters to more than 300 scales to measure food and drink. Maps of many kinds fill out the collections, from railroad surveys to star charts.
"Measuring & Mapping - Overview" showing 75 items.
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Engraving of fish species "Caragnus esculentus, Doliodon carolinus, Chorinemus lanceolatus, Chloroscombrus cambraeus, Argyreiosus capillaris, Vomer setapinnis"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Caragnus esculentus [Grd], Doliodon carolinus [Grd], Chorinemus lanceolatus [Grd], Chloroscombrus carribeaus [Grd], Argyreiosis capillaris [De Kay], and Vomer setapinnis [Grd]; now "Oligoplites saurus" (Leatherjacket), "Trachinotus carolinus" (Florida pompano), "Oligoplites saurus" (Leatherjacket), "Chloroscombrus carribaeus" (Atlantic bumper), and "Selene setapinnis" (Atlantic moonfish or horsefish); from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 11 in the “Fishes” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1859
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- printer
- Wendell, Cornelius
- author
- Emory, William H.
- publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- author
- Girard, Charles
- publisher
- U.S. Army
- ID Number
- 2009.0115.080
- catalog number
- 2009.0115.080
- accession number
- 2009.0115
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraving of fish species "Moniana rutila, Moniana formosa, Moniana gibbosa, Moniana aurata, Moniana frigida, Moniana couchi"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Moniana rutila [Grd], Moniana formosa [Grd], Moniana gibbosa [Grd], Moniana aurata [Grd], Moniana frigida [Grd], Moniana couchi [Grd];” now "Cyprinella rutila" (Mexican shiner), "Cyprinella formosa" (Beautiful shiner), "Cyprinella leutrensis" (Red shiner), "Cyprinella proserpina" (Proserpine shiner), "Cyprinella lutrensis" (Red shiner), and "Cyprinella lutrensis" (Red shiner), from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 30 in the “Fishes” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1859
- publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- printer
- Wendell, Cornelius
- author
- Emory, William H.
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- author
- Girard, Charles
- publisher
- U.S. Army
- ID Number
- 2009.0115.096
- catalog number
- 2009.0115.096
- accession number
- 2009.0115
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraving of fish species "Anguilla tyrannus"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Anguilla tyrannus [Grd]”, now "Anguilla rostrata" or American eel, from an original sketch likely drawn by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 40 in the “Fishes” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1859
- publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- printer
- Wendell, Cornelius
- author
- Emory, William H.
- Girard, Charles
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- ID Number
- 2009.0115.106
- catalog number
- 2009.0115.106
- accession number
- 2009.0115
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Chromolithograph of "Colorado Desert and Signal Mountain"
- Description
- This chromolithograph of “Colorado Desert and Signal Mountain” was originally drawn by Charles Koppel and printed as Plate XI in the first report of volume V of Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, “Explorations In California for Railroad Routes, to Connect with the Routes near the 35th and 32nd Parallels of North Latitude.” The volume was printed in 1856 by Beverley Tucker in Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1856
- original artist
- Koppel, Charles
- publisher
- U.S. War Department
- author
- Williamson, Robert Stockton
- printer
- Tucker, Beverley
- graphic artist
- unknown
- publisher
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Command
- ID Number
- GA*10729.26
- accession number
- 1918.62261
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Chromolithograph of "Fort Massachusetts at the Foot of the Sierra Blanca Valley of San Luis"
- Description
- Thomas Sinclair (c.1805–1881) of Philadelphia printed this chromolithograph of “Fort Massachusetts at the Foot of the Sierra Blanca Valley of San Luis” originally drawn by R.H. Kern (1821–1853) of Philadelphia and drafted by John M. Stanley (1814–1872) of Detroit (1834–1840, 1864–1872) and Washington, D.C. (1850–1860). The illustration was printed in the “Report, by Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith, Third Artillery, upon the Route near the Thirty–Eighth and Thirty–Ninth Parallels, Explored by Captain J. W. Gunnison, Corps Topographical Engineers” of volume II of Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. The volume was printed in 1855 by Beverley Tucker in Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1855
- engraver
- Stanley, John Mix
- artist
- Kern, Richard H.
- printer
- Sinclair, T.
- publisher
- U.S. War Department
- author
- Beckwith, Edward Griffin
- Gunnison, John Williams
- printer
- Tucker, Beverley
- publisher
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Command
- ID Number
- GA*10729.27
- accession number
- 1918.62261
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Chromolithograph of "Mirage on the Colorado Desert"
- Description
- This chromolithograph of “Mirage on the Colorado Desert” was originally drawn by William P. Blake (1826–1910), the mineralogist and geologist of the expedition. It was printed as "Geology, Plate XII" in the geological report of the second part of volume V of Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, “Routes in California, to Connect with the Routes near the Thirty–Fifth and Thirty–Second Parallels, Explored by Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, Corps of Topographical Engineers, in 1853” by William P. Blake. The volume was printed in 1857 by Beverley Tucker in Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1856
- 1857
- publisher
- U.S. War Department
- printer
- Tucker, Beverley
- expedition leader
- Williamson, Robert Stockton
- author
- Blake, William Phipps
- original artist
- Blake, William Phipps
- graphic artist
- unknown
- publisher
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Command
- ID Number
- GA*10729.32
- accession number
- 1918.62261
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Chromolithograph of "Great Basin from the Summit of Tejon Pass"
- Description
- This chromolithograph of “Great Basin from the Summit of Tejon Pass” was originally drawn by William P. Blake (1826–1910), the mineralogist and geologist of the expedition. It was printed as "Geology, Plate V" in the geological report of the second part of volume V of Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, “Routes in California, to Connect with the Routes near the Thirty–Fifth and Thirty–Second Parallels, Explored by Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, Corps of Topographical Engineers, in 1853” written by William P. Blake. The volume was printed in 1857 by Beverley Tucker in Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1856
- 1857
- publisher
- U.S. War Department
- printer
- Tucker, Beverley
- author
- Williamson, Robert Stockton
- Blake, William Phipps
- original artist
- Blake, William Phipps
- graphic artist
- unknown
- publisher
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Command
- ID Number
- GA*10729.33
- accession number
- 1918.62261
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Chromolithograph of "Los Angeles"
- Description
- This chromolithograph of “Los Angeles” was originally drawn by Charles Koppel. It was printed as Plate X in the first report of volume V of Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, “Explorations in California for Railroad Routes, to Connect with the Routes near the 35th and 32nd Parallels of North Latitude by Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, Corps of Topographical Engineers.” The volume was printed in 1857 by Beverley Tucker in Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1856
- publisher
- U.S. War Department
- printer
- Tucker, Beverley
- author
- Williamson, Robert Stockton
- original artist
- Koppel, Charles
- graphic artist
- unknown
- publisher
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Command
- ID Number
- GA*10729.36
- accession number
- 1918.62261
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Chromolithograph of "Metamorphic Rocks-Borders of the Desert"
- Description
- This chromolithograph of “Metamorphic Rocks — Borders of the Desert” was originally drawn by William P. Blake (1826–1910), the mineralogist and geologist of the expedition. It was printed as "Geology Plate XIII" in the geological report of volume V of Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, “Routes in California, to Connect with the Routes near the Thirty–Fifth and Thirty–Second Parallels, Explored by Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, Corps of Topographical Engineers, in 1853” by William P. Blake. The volume was printed in 1857 by Beverley Tucker in Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1856
- publisher
- U.S. War Department
- printer
- Tucker, Beverley
- graphic artist
- unknown
- original artist
- Blake, William Phipps
- author
- Blake, William Phipps
- Williamson, Robert Stockton
- publisher
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Command
- ID Number
- GA*10729.37
- accession number
- 1918.62261
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Chromolithograph of "Mission and Plain of San Fernando"
- Description
- This chromolithograph of “Mission and Plain of San Fernando” was originally drawn by Charles Koppel. It was printed as Plate VI in the geological report of volume V of Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, “Routes in California, to Connect with the Routes near the Thirty–Fifth and Thirty–Second Parallels, Explored by Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, Corps of Topographical Engineers, in 1853” written by William P. Blake. The volume was printed in 1857 by Beverley Tucker in Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1856
- 1857
- publisher
- U.S. War Department
- printer
- Tucker, Beverley
- author
- Williamson, Robert Stockton
- Blake, William Phipps
- original artist
- Koppel, Charles
- graphic artist
- unknown
- publisher
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Command
- ID Number
- GA*10729.38
- accession number
- 1918.62261
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center