If you’re a map and geography enthusiast like myself, and enjoy spending time poring over maps and Google Earth learning about cities, roads, rivers and countries - then you probably appreciate historical maps as well.

It’s amazing that without satellites and aerial surveying, (save for rudimentary bicycle powered cartoonish hot air balloons,) the early explorers still managed to depict new lands in such a correct manner and proportions.  The cartography of our coasts and borders from the mid 1800s is almost the detail of present day accuracy.

The Old Map Gallery in Denver’s Lower Downtown area has a huge collection of old maps from all corners of the globe, including celestial and oceanic charts as well.  If you have a map geek in your life it’s worth checking out their collection.  Or make your co-workers think you’re smarter by eschewing the cuddly cat calendar for a nice framed map like this circa 1700s Europe shown below.

They located at 1746 Blake Street, in Denver.  And at oldmapgallery.com