Rare Local Maps on exhibit at the Elkhart County Historical Museum
Local history enthusiasts will not want to miss the current maps exhibit at the Elkhart County Historical Museum. 30 seldom before-seen maps from the collection are on display until March 5, 2010 in the museum’s temporary exhibit gallery.
Elkhart’s earliest known plat map completed in 1832 will be among the highlights. The map was signed by Havilah Beardsley and included land along the Elkhart River from Washington to Jackson Streets. Among the earliest plat maps to be shown will be Crane’s Addition to Goshen along Rock Run Creek (1832), Plat of the Town of Benton (1834), and a traveler’s pocket map for the Midwest (1834). Also included in the exhibit will be a collection of map-making equipment used by Ambrose Bierce during the American Civil War.
Surveying equipment and map drawing tools will be displayed alongside the maps. The equipment will demonstrate how surveying and map drawing was completed throughout history. Visitors can try a reproduction of a surveyor’s compass that was commonly used in the 1830s.
Children are welcome to attend and put their mapping skills to the test by creating a map of the museum’s second floor. The maps will then be put on display in the exhibit. At the end of the exhibit’s run, one lucky map maker will win a prize!
The museum’s regular hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. There is no charge for admission, but donations are accepted. For more information, please call the museum at (574) 848-4322. The museum is located at 304 W. Vistula (SR 120) in Bristol.
- Rebecca Oestreich, Elkhart County Historical Museum
Posted by Mindy October 5th, 2009
Amish Country Northern Indiana Contributor and Visitor Center Attendant.
Tags: Amish Country, Elkhart, Elkhart County, Elkhart County Historical Museum, Elkhart County Historical Socity, Maps
Loading ...
