Top of page

Map Map of Central America, 1856. Map of Central America

About this Item

Title

  • Map of Central America, 1856.

Other Title

  • Map of Central America

Summary

  • This 1856 map of Central America was created by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, based on information provided by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and edited and printed by the New York mapmaker and publisher Adolphus Ranney (1824-74). It shows the extreme southern part of Mexico and the six countries of Central America: Guatemala, Honduras, San Salvador (El Salvador), Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the Mosquito Coast (later British Honduras, today Belize). Panama is still part of Colombia, which at this time is called New Granada. Relief is shown by hachures, contours, and spot elevations in feet. Depths are shown by soundings in feet. Three inset maps at the lower left show the Bay of Fonseca, the Port of San Juan de Nicaragua, and the southern part of Nicaragua from San Juan to the Bay of Fonseca, i.e., from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. The main line of the proposed canal route, running through Lake Nicaragua, is marked on the latter map. In the 1850s, Nicaragua was thought to be the most likely route of an isthmian canal, with Panama not yet seriously considered. Notes on the main map provide information about distances and geographic features, information found on other maps, and competing territorial claims and the status of various boundaries in the region. Under the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty, signed by Great Britain and the United States in April 1850, the two powers agreed not to seek exclusive control of the proposed isthmian canal or territory on either side of such a canal, not to fortify any position in the canal area, and not to establish colonies in Central America. The Mosquito Coast, where the British already had settlements, was an exception. The scale of the map is in statute miles.

Names

  • Julius Bien and Company Lithographer.
  • Ranney, Adolphus, 1824-1874 Editor.
  • United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Creator.
  • United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations Associated Name.

Created / Published

  • New York City : United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1856.

Headings

  • -  Belize
  • -  Costa Rica
  • -  Cuba
  • -  El Salvador
  • -  Guatemala
  • -  Honduras
  • -  Jamaica
  • -  Mexico
  • -  Nicaragua
  • -  Panama
  • -  1856
  • -  Administrative and political divisions
  • -  Boundaries
  • -  Expeditions and surveys
  • -  Topographic maps
  • -  Treaties

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  "Scale 1:2,500,000"--Note extracted from World Digital Library.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 map : color ; 73 x 93 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.
  • -  Content in English.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021668658

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Julius Bien And Company Lithographer, Adolphus Ranney, United States Coast And Geodetic Survey Creator, and United States Congress. Senate. Committee On Foreign Relations Associated Name. Map of Central America. New York City: United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1856. Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668658/.

APA citation style:

Julius Bien And Company Lithographer, Ranney, A., United States Coast And Geodetic Survey Creator & United States Congress. Senate. Committee On Foreign Relations Associated Name. (1856) Map of Central America. New York City: United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668658/.

MLA citation style:

Julius Bien And Company Lithographer, et al. Map of Central America. New York City: United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1856. Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021668658/>.