'Tracking Oregon's Boundaries' depicts Pacific Northwest between 1802-1861

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Jan. 23, 2009) - The period between 1802 and 1861
was a time of exploration and settlement in the Pacific Northwest,
specifically in the area that would become Oregon in 1859. An
exhibition of rare maps from this time period will be displayed through
the month of February in the capitol building in Salem as part of the
state's sesquicentennial celebration.

Map Exhibit
The exhibit, "Tracking Oregon's Boundaries: Maps from 1802 to 1861,"
highlights more than 60 years of the changing topography, geography and
political boundaries of the region. Many of the maps were commissioned
by the U.S. government and were created by the best cartographers of
the time. One is from the same printing of the map used to plan the
Lewis and Clark exploration, with the area from the Mississippi River
to the Pacific Ocean virtually blank.

The
show, which is sponsored by the University of Oregon, features
high-resolution digital prints of the maps from the collection of Dr.
Jim Walker. The show will also include interactive features, such as an
origin of names activity and information about mapmaking and the
biographies of some of the cartographers.

"These maps are works of art that illustrate Oregon's history in a
microcosm," said Jon Erlandson, executive director, UO Museum of
Natural & Cultural History. "We are excited to be able to share
these pieces of Oregon's past and help celebrate the state's birthday."

The maps take the viewers through visual timeline of the history of Oregon as it became a state. Map on display include:

  • Charles Fremont's Oregon Trail route
  • The first use of "Oregon Territory," well before there was an official territory

• A map by Washington Hood drawn to accompany the U.S. Senate report
promoting a bill to authorize the president to occupy the Oregon
Territory
• A 1859 document that is believed to be the first printed map of Oregon as a state

The exhibit is sponsored by the Museum of Natural and Cultural History and the Office of Public and Government Affairs.

The University of Oregon is a proud participant in Oregon 150-the
sesquicentennial celebration of Oregon's admission to the Union in
1859. The mission of Oregon 150 is to inspire people across the state
to remember, experience and celebrate Oregon and, together, create a
robust and sustainable future. For more information: http://oregon150.uoregon.edu.

Source: Patricia Krier, director of public programs and development,
Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 541-346-5089, pkrier@uoregon.edu

Links: Museum of Natural and Cultural History, natural-history.uoregon.edu; UO Oregon 150, Oregon150.uoregon.edu

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