MINNESOTA OFFICIAL MAPS

 

Notes:

 

Maps dated 1967-1971 and 1979-82 have two sides which could be considered the front cover. Only one side is described here. All of the pre-1934 maps described below are large maps with backs that are completely blank. They are folded in such a way that all you see is the blank back portion. The maps are dated in the legend box on the map itself, usually on the right side near the middle or the top. From 1940 B through 1962, the majority of official maps published did not include railroads. However, versions with railroads shown have been found for most of these years.

 

“Trunk Highway Condition Maps" or earlier referred to as “Improvement Progress Maps” are known to exist from the early 1920s until at least 1947. These maps were published annually to update the public on road conditions and construction areas. These maps were also given out by various businesses with their advertisements added and frequently appeared in state newspapers.

 

Starting in 1991, Best Western Hotels issued maps with their locations listed one of the back covers. The primary official maps were published by MnDOT and the MN Office of Tourism and their contact information was printed on the back covers. Recent issues have 511mn.org information also listed. The official DOT maps are now available for purchase only through the Minnesota Bookstore. The co-sponsored Best Western maps are generally handed out at the various state rest stops.

 

Sponsor(s): Matt Alberts, Craig Solomonson

Last updated: 10/16/09 (cas)

 

Minnesota Maps:

 

1917; dtd lgnd (Jan.1); no cvr; unfolded 34 x 38.5

.           [2 known versions: {Status of State Road Construction}, {The Status of Improvement}]
1919; dtd lgnd (Jan.); no cvr (cardboard folder protecting map); unfolded 34 x 38.
1920; dtd lgnd (Jan.); no cvr; unfolded 20.75 x 29.5

1922; reported by PC (dtd lgnd (May 1); no cvr)
1923; dtd lgnd (May 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1924; dtd lgnd (May 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1925; dtd lgnd (May 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1926; dtd lgnd (April 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1927; dtd lgnd (Jun 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1928; dtd lgnd (May 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1929; dtd lgnd (April 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1930; dtd lgnd (April 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1931; dtd lgnd (April 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1932; dtd lgnd (April 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1933; dtd lgnd (April 1); no cvr; unfolded 33 x 38
1934; dtd cvr; lgnd (May 1); clr dwg of pine trees & lake; 4 x 9
1935; dtd cvr; lgnd (April 1); clr dwg of pine trees & lake; 4 x 9
1936; dtd cvr; lgnd (April 1); clr dwg of pine trees & canoe (silhouette); 4 x 9
1937; dtd cvr; lgnd (April 1); clr dwg of pine trees & canoe (silhouette); 4 x 9
1938; dtd cvr; lgnd (April 1); clr dwg of hwy, lake, cabins, etc; 4 x 9
1939; dtd cvr; clr dwg of hwy, lake, cabins, etc; 4 x 9

.           [2 known versions: {lgnd (Jan 1)}, {lgnd (May 1)}]
1940 A; dtd cvr, lgnd (Jan. 1); otherwise same as 1939 ("Advance Edition" inside)

1940 B; dtd cvr, lgnd (May 1); clr dwg of st cptl bldg; 4 x 9.5
.
           [2 known versions: { }, {date removed from front cvr}]
1941; dtd cvr; lgnd (May 1); clr dwg of st flag, flowers and birds; 4 x 9.5
1942; dtd cvr; lgnd (May 1); clr dwg of red & white banner with eagle over hwy; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1943; dtd cvr; lgnd (May 1); same as 1942 exc 1943 sticker added to front cvr

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]

1944; dtd cvr; lgnd (May 1); same as 1942 exc 1944 sticker added to front cvr

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1946; dtd cvr; lgnd (May 1); clr dwg of Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1947; dtd cvr; lgnd (May 1); clr dwg of NtvAm by lake; 4 x 9.5
1948; dtd cvr; lgnd (Jan. 1); clr dwg of waterfall; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1949; dtd cvr; lgnd (Jan. 1); clr dwg of "Steamer Wayne" on Mississippi River; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1950; dtd cvr; lgnd (Jan. 1); clr dwg of hwy bridge in forest; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1951; dtd cvr; lgnd (Jan. 1); clr dwg "View of the Hiawatha Valley from U.S. 61"; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1952; dtd cvr; lgnd (Jan. 1); clr photo of hwy through forest "Gunflint Trail"; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1953; dtd cvr; lgnd (Jan. 1); clr dwg of st cptl bldg; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1954; dtd cvr; lgnd (Jan. 1); clr dwg of man camping "Minnesota's Official Tree The Red Pine"; 4 x 9.5

1955; dtd cvr; lgnd (Jan. 1); otherwise same as 1953

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1956; dtd cvr; 5 sm clr dwgs over clr photo of lake; 4 x 9.5
1957; dtd cvr; clr dwg of man & boy fishing; 4 x 9.5
1958; dtd cvr; clr dwg of "Minnesota Centennial" logo; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1959; dtd cvr; clr dwg of "Welcome to Minnesota" sign; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1960; dtd cvr; clr photo of the "Great River Road, Minnesota"; 4 x 9.5
1961; dtd cvr; clr dwg of "Grand Portage National Monument..."; 4 x 9.5
1962; dtd cvr; clr dwg "Signing of Traverse des Sioux Treaty"; 4 x 9.5

.           [2 known versions: {railroads not shown}, {railroads shown}]
1963; dtd cvr; clr photo of man & boy with canoe by lake; 4 x 9.5
1964; dtd cvr; clr aerial photo "...TH 169 as it goes through the Pillsbury Mine..."; 4 x 9.5
1965; dtd cvr; clr aerial photo "Modern State Highways 52 and 14 serve Rochester..." 4 x 9.5
1966; dtd cvr; clr aerial photo "Highways 52 and 55...at Pine Bend..."; 4 x 9.5
1967; dtd cvr; clr photo of sail boat; 4.5 x 7.5
1968-69; dtd cvr; clr photo of cars on divided hwy; 4.5 x 7.5
1969; dtd cvr; otherwise same as 1968-69
1970; dtd cvr; clr photo of boat on lake; 4.5 x 7.5
1971; dtd cvr; clr photo of hwy rest area; 4.5 x 7.5
1972; dtd cvr; clr photo of st cptl bldg at night; 4.5 x 7.5
1973; dtd cvr; 6 clr photos (snowshoer, sailboat, etc.); 4.5 x 7.5
1974; dtd cvr; clr photo of 2 people in canoe; 4.5 x 7.5
1975; dtd cvr; clr photo of hwy rest area; 4.5 x 7.5
1976; dtd cvr; 2 clr photos - "Grand Portage Trail 1776" & "Interstate 35W 1976"; 4.5 x 7.5
1977-78; dtd cvr; clr photo of sm airplane flying over river barges; 4.5 x 7.5
1979-80; dtd lgnd; clr photo of village with church by river; 4.5 x 7.5
1981-82; dtd lgnd; clr photo of sunflowers; 4.5 x 7.5
1983-84; dtd lgnd; clr photo of logging truck on hwy in autumn; 4.5 x 7.5
1985-86; dtd lgnd; clr photo of man in canoe; 3.75 x 8.75
1987-88; dtd lgnd; clr photo of country road in autumn; 4.25 x 8.75
1989-90; dtd lgnd, cvr (1990); clr photo of man with torch with 3 sm photo insets; 4.25 x 8.75
1991-92; dtd lgnd; clr photo of pine forest; 4.25 x 8.75

1993-94; dtd lgnd; clr photo of light house on big rock; 4.25 x 8.75

1995-96; dtd bk cvr; clr photo of riverfront walkway and bridge; 4.25 x 8.75

1997-98; dtd bk cvr; clr photo of speedboat on lake; 4.25 x 8.75

1999-2000; dtd bk cvr; clr aerial photo of farm landscape w/county hwy; 4.25 x 8.75

2001-02; dtd bk cvr; clr photo of winding road through forest; 4.25 x 8.75

2003-04; dtd bk cvr; clr aerial photo of North Shore Drive along Lake Superior; 4.25 x 8.75

2005-06; dtd bk cvr; clr photo of downtown Minneapolis along Mississippi River; 4.25 x 8.75

2007-08; dtd bk cvr; clr photo of waterfall (Ramsey Falls near Redwood Falls); 4.25 x 8.75

2009-10; dtd bk cvr; clr photo of new I-35W bridge in downtown Minneapolis; 4.25 x 8.75

 

Minnesota Best Western/Days Inn Hotels Maps (ad on bk cvr):

 

1991; dtd bk cvr (6/91); clr photo of pine forest; 4.25 x 8.75

1993; dtd lgnd (1993-94); clr photo of light house on big rock, phone number 1-800-528-1234; 4.25 x 8.75

.           [2 known versions: {moon to right of lighthouse}, {cvr photo reversed-moon to left of lighthouse}]

1994; same as 1993 exc phone number is 1-800-637-5955

1995; dtd lgnd (1995-96); clr photo of riverfront walkway and bridge, 2 columns of hotels listed; 4.25 x 8.75

1996; same as 1995 exc 3 columns of hotels listed
1997; dtd lgnd (1997-98); clr photo of speedboat on lake, green strip on top of bk cvr; 4.25 x 8.75

1998; dtd cprt on bk cvr; otherwise same as 1997

1999; dtd cprt on bk cvr; clr aerial photo of farm landscape w/county hwy; 4.25 x 8.75

2000; dtd cprt on bk cvr; otherwise same as 1999

2001; dtd cprt on bk cvr; clr photo of winding road through forest; 4.25 x 8.75

2002; dtd cprt on bk cvr; otherwise same as 2001

2003; dtd cprt on bk cvr; clr aerial photo of North Shore Drive along Lake Superior; 4.25 x 8.75

2004; dtd cprt on bk cvr; otherwise same as 2003

2005; dtd cprt on bk cvr; clr photo of downtown Minneapolis along Mississippi River; 4.25 x 8.75

2006; dtd cprt on bk cvr; otherwise same as 2005

2007; dtd cprt on bk cvr; clr photo of waterfall (Ramsey Falls near Redwood Falls); 4.25 x 8.75

2008; dtd cprt on bk cvr; otherwise same as 2007 (switched to Days Inn sponsorship)

 

Minnesota Condition Maps:

 

1922; dtd lgnd (May 1); no cvr; “Improvement Progress Map”; printed one side only; unfolded 17 x 20.75

1923; dtd lgnd; no cvr; distance schedule on back; unfolded 15 x 18.75

1925; dtd lgnd; no cvr; distance schedule on back; unfolded 13.25 x 18

1928; dtd lgnd; no cvr; distance schedule on back; unfolded 14 x 20.5

1930; dtd lgnd; no cvr; distance schedule on back; unfolded 14 x 20.5

1931; dtd lgnd; no cvr; distance schedule on back; unfolded 14 x 20.5

1932; dtd lgnd; no cvr; distance schedule on back; unfolded 14 x 20.5

1933; dtd lgnd; no cvr; distance schedule on back; unfolded 14 x 20.5

1934; dtd cvr; bw state seal; 5.5 x 8.5

1935; dtd cvr; bw state seal; 5.5 x 8.5

1937; dtd cvr; blue and white drawing of pine tree by lake with canoe; 4.75 x 9.5

1939; dtd lgnd; no cvr; printed one side only; unfolded 19 x 24

1941; dtd lgnd; no cvr; printed one side only; unfolded 19 x 24

1946; dtd lgnd; no cvr; printed one side only; unfolded 19 x 24

1947; dtd lgnd; no cvr; printed one side only; unfolded 19 x 24