This pictorial map was created by Franklin Leavitt, a mountain guide and self-taught mapmaker.
The geography is mostly representational and it is probably best not to get too concerned about accuracy. Leavitt’s very small home town of Lancaster is prominently featured in the foreground.
Most of the map appears to be oriented with east at the top - the Saco and Androscoggin Rivers flow out of the top while the northwest-flowing Israel heads to the bottom of the map. However, as you move left the map seems to change orientation with south moving to the top. This is most pronounced by the curving of the Connecticut River (it doesn’t curve like that) from along the bottom to the right edge of the map. The north arrow, positioned on the left (east facing side) shows south as up. It’s all very confusing.
Best to focus on the strange details such as various people killing bears,
or riding in horse drawn buggies or trains or watching the cog railway climb Mount Washington.
The top of the map shows pictures of waterfalls and lists distances from Boston, Portland and other locations to promote tourism. There is also a railroad map of “the Canadas and United States” meant to emphasize how well connected the area is. The Crawford family established the first of what would become many tourist inns in White Mountain Notch, now known as Crawford Notch,
and not to be outdone they also killed bears.
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