Precontact Maps
On my search for precontact maps I found this map that is titled The Far West, 1686-1754. This map not only shown the locations of towns and the date of their settlements, but it also shows the routes of several different groups including French Traders.
While studying this map I noted that there isn’t a definition of state lines and instead an emphasis on the river, lakes, bays, and mountain regions in the area depicted. While America was first settled in as a territory during 1607 in Jamestown Virginia as one moves further west and into Missouri the records of settlement in Missouri begin with the town St. Genevieve in 1732-1734. This town can be seen on the map along the Mississippi River.
Besides towns this map shows the locations of specific forts and when they were established. Due to these dates of not only towns, but also forts one can see a progression of movement across what was known as the far west.
In this map below that is dated 1700-1775, one can see a smaller portion of what is addressed in the map above, but in this particular map the locations of the tribes are written in a lighter ink. Cities and trading centers can also be seen on this map with the date of establishment.
