Connecticut Map
PublisherPublished by
Connecticut State Highway Department
(American, 1895 - 1969)
PublisherPublished by
State Park and Forest Commission
(American, 1921 - 1971)
PublisherPublished by
State Board of Fisheries and Game
(American, 1913 - 1971)
Date1954
MediumLithography; black and colored printer's inks on wove paper
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 23 x 31in. (58.4 x 78.7cm)
Sheet (height x width): 23 5/8 x 31 5/8in. (60 x 80.3cm)
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number2012.312.118
DescriptionMap of the state of Connecticut, with the border of Massachusetts to the north, the border of Rhode Island to the east, the Long Island Sound to the south, and the border of New York to the west. To the left of the map, the legend provides explanations for the depiction of roads, railroads and hiking trails; population centers; state, county and town boundaries; state parks and forests, hunting, fishing and skiing areas; and various elements of infrastructure. Below the legend is a short, illustrated guide to the marking of Connecticut highways. A place name index and list of public recreation areas appear below the map. The cartouche, located in the bottom right corner, shows a variety of Connecticut-related scenes, including the State Capitol building, the state bird and flower, people enjoying the outdoors, and cars on a highway.
On the reverse side, there are eight small maps: one each of New Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury, Norwich and New London, and a map of the exits on the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways. To the left of the city maps is a table of approximate mileages from different places in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The bottom portion of the sheet features nine black-and-white photographs, from left to right: Burr Pond State Park, Harkness Memorial State Park, Gillette Castle State Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Devil's Hopyard State Park, Hurd State Park, Rocky Neck State Park, Sleeping Giant State Park, and Sherwood Islands State Park.
On the reverse side, there are eight small maps: one each of New Haven, Bridgeport, Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury, Norwich and New London, and a map of the exits on the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways. To the left of the city maps is a table of approximate mileages from different places in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The bottom portion of the sheet features nine black-and-white photographs, from left to right: Burr Pond State Park, Harkness Memorial State Park, Gillette Castle State Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Devil's Hopyard State Park, Hurd State Park, Rocky Neck State Park, Sleeping Giant State Park, and Sherwood Islands State Park.
Label TextDistributed for free by the State Highway Commission and the Forest and Parks Commission, this map clearly was meant to encourage people to get out and enjoy the state. Photographs on the back of the map show people swimming at Burr Pond, Hammonassett, and Sherwood Island State Parks and picknicking at Hurd State Park. A dramatic aerial view makes the campground at Rocky Neck State Park look like an abstract composition. The locations of state parks and forests are all clearly indicated and their facilties for bathing, boating, camping, fishing, and picknicking are all listed. The map also shows historic houses, art galleries, museums, and other attractions.To reach these attractions, most motorists would have had to drive through every town and city along their way. The small city maps provided on the back of the large state map appear to have been provided to help these travelers navigate the city streets. True interstate highways were still a thing of the future, though the Merritt Parkway and the Wilbur Cross Parkway provided a convenient route for those traveling to and from New York.
NotesCartographic Note: Scale: 1 inch equals approximately 3.5 milesStatus
Not on view
Connecticut State Highway Department
1934
