Room 1: Early Prototypes
The mapping of Maryland developed over several centuries and involved
many contributors. John White’s 1590 map of Virginia hints at a vast estuary
whose source appears to spring forth from beneath the title cartouche.
It also marks the first appearance of the name "Chesapeake Bay" on any
map. White’s map, however, was soon superseded by that of John Smith. Smith’s
meticulous ten week survey of the bay region, encompassing some 2,000 miles
of coastline, served as the intellectual foundation for a map referred
to by cartographers for over sixty years. Printed in 1612, the Smith map
became the "Mother map" or prototype for numerous derivatives and an inspiration
for later regional depictions. |
