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Thanks to our CTO! hosts this year!
We will hold our 2012 Expo in Columbus once again, and are planning on 2013 in Minneapolis.
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Official Maps Master List

North American Oil Companies' Map Master Lists

Maps by the Decade
Commemorative Event Maps
Dating Rand and Gousha Maps
Interpreting Rand Codes

State Transportation
& Tourism Departments
Links from our members
Libraries with map collections
Useful map sites
Highway history sites
1936 Kendall map 1937 Freedom map

The advent of affordable automobiles spawned a new trend in American culture: the road trip. Motorists anxious to tour the country quickly tired of stopping every few miles to ask directions; out of their troubles came the first road maps, given away by gasoline companies hoping to increase business and customer loyalty. State and provincial governments soon began turning out maps of their own for tourists, using them to promote the scenic and cultural wonders of the state, and perhaps enticing the visitor to remain a few more days. Travelers soon came to expect free maps whenever they stopped for gas or tourist information, and companies such as Rand McNally, H.M. Gousha, and General Drafting turned out millions to meet demand.

Over time, maps became costlier and competition among oil companies became more fierce. The oil woes that gripped the world in the 1970s stripped free maps from gas station shelves as oil companies cut their expenses to the bare minimum. Motorists either turned to official tourism offices for free maps, paid to join automobile clubs for their trip routing services, or broke down and purchased maps from the same gasoline retailers who used to give them away.

 Collecting Today

Conoco map cover

Drawn in by the fanciful covers or the intricate hand-drawn cartography of early maps, or tracing the tremendous changes in the landscape brought about by the construction of the Interstate highway system, collectors find maps to be an inexpensive aid in armchair travel. Old maps are still widely available at antique stores, garage sales, and swap meets, and new ones are usually just a toll-free call away at the many tourism departments.

Collectors joined together to promote the hobby and network with trading partners in the Road Map Collectors Association. Begun over a decade ago, this group now has over 150 members, and holds its annual map swap meet and Expo to give collectors a chance to visit with each other and learn more about the hobby.

© 2011 Road Map Collectors Association
Webmaster Judy Aulik webmaster (at) roadmaps (dot) org.