1921 -1925 Glacier National Park Aeroplane Map
DESCRIPTION
Capitalizing on the era's fascination with the novelty of air travel, this folding map of Montana's Glacier National Park stylizes itself an "Aeroplane Map" rather a standard bird's eye view. With an abstract and lofty verso opposite a recto populated by photographs of gritty, down-to-earth adventures, this map juxtaposes media and perspectives to construct a multi-faceted, rich idea of the park.
A Closer Look at the Map and Park
Only a handful of manmade structures appear across the craggy Continental Divide that this map positions as Glacier National Park's central feature. Hotels, chalets, and the occasional bridge here are dwarfed by the ridges, glaciers, lakes, and mountains that surround them. In its attempt to capture the view one might achieve from an aeroplane, these topographical features are here depicted with an aim towards realism rather readability. Where a technique like hachure would usually be deployed towards rendering the exact elevation of a region legible, that precision is here neglected in favor of the awe-inspiring picturesque. As its purpose was to attract and inform, such precision is reserved for the auto roads, railroads, and walking trails that thread across the piece, features that might actually aid visitors in navigating to and within the park.
As this map was commissioned by Great Northern Railway to drive demand for transport to the region, it features an inset map of the railroad's routes across the upper third of the United States and occasional dips into Canada. Starting in St. Paul, this inset map shows the forking paths one could take from the Twin Cities, through Glacier National Park, to the young and booming West Coast cities of Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco.
Complementing this awe-inspiring view from above with an idea of what one could actually expect once they arrived at the park, this piece's recto features text and images showing remarkable points within the park, common tourist activities, and wildlife. Entries pay attention to the luxurious "Great Trees Lodge," horseback riding, and cruise tours on St. Mary's Lake. Listed also is a directory of where Great Northern Representatives can be contacted in major cities across the United States and Canada.
Dating the Map
We believe this edition was published circa 1921–1925. The map depicts Great Northern's developed network of Glacier Park hotels and chalets, including Many Glacier Hotel and Granite Park Chalet, both completed in 1915, while the form of the railroad's distinctive mountain-goat emblem is consistent with branding adopted in the early 1920s. The illustrated touring bus provides another useful clue, as this model began to be replaced in 1925, while the Prince of Wales Hotel, opened in 1927, is notably absent. Taken together, these details strongly support an early-to-mid 1920s date for this particular edition.
CONDITION
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