Created by the United States Geological Survey in 1948, this Topographic Map of Grand Teton National Park captures the park at a formative moment in American conservation history. Meticulous contouring reveals the park’s famous vertical drama, while the mid-century USGS palette—earth-toned elevation, blue hydrography, and crisply marked access routes—conveys scientific clarity with aesthetic restraint. The result is a richly informative portrait of Teton County’s signature landscapes, from serrated skylines to glacial basins and river-carved flats. As both a field-ready guide for hikers and a scholarly artifact for collectors and historians, it preserves the late-1940s geographic understanding of one of the nation’s most storied protected areas.

The Teton Range rises from valley floor to high crest in striking relief, with Mount Moran and South Teton anchoring a procession of summits and saddles. Paintbrush Divide and Glacier Divide are charted as crucial high routes, while North Cascade Canyon and the grand trench of Cascade Canyon unfurl in textbook U-shaped profiles, evidence of ice ages freshly interpreted by mid-century geologists. Death Canyon, Afton Canyon, and Holbrook Canyon unfold as steep corridors, their contour intervals testifying to abrupt elevation change and narrow throats. Trails thread these features with purpose, tracing classic ascents and traverses that still define the park’s backcountry lore.

Hydrology is rendered with quiet authority. Jackson Lake, with its broad, scalloped shoreline, dominates the northern basin, while Jenny Lake and Taggart Lake gleam at the feet of glaciers long withdrawn. Phelps Lake sits like a polished bowl at the mouth of Death Canyon; Emma Matilda Lake lies serene to the east, a counterpoint to the restless course of the Snake River. Blue-lined tributaries trickle from cirques and snowfields, feeding a network of creeks identified with care—essential intelligence for route planning, water resupply, and understanding watersheds. The map’s depiction of lakes, rivers, and marshes reflects both scientific precision and the poetry of alpine water.

Human access and recreation are charted with a postwar confidence that mirrors America’s growing passion for the outdoors. Roads and approaches are clearly indicated, with Moose, Wyoming appearing as a gateway settlement and the corridor over Teton Pass opening the western approach. The vicinity of Teton Village and Rendezvous Peak defines a well-known western skyline, while campsites, visitor areas, and signed trailheads mark the era’s emerging infrastructure. Classic paths into Cascade Canyon, up toward Paintbrush Divide, or around Taggart and Phelps Lakes are legible at a glance, inviting safe, well-informed exploration. The blend of routes and relief gives equal weight to adventure and prudence.

Historically, this 1948 sheet sits between the creation of Grand Teton National Park (1929) and the 1950 expansion that unified it with the wartime Jackson Hole National Monument (1943), a crucial chapter in U.S. conservation. Its boundaries and annotations reflect a nation balancing preservation with burgeoning recreational demand. As a USGS production, it embodies the agency’s mission to map America’s resources and hazards with exactness, supporting stewardship as well as scientific inquiry. For educators, collectors, and naturalists, it is more than a wayfinding tool: it is a primary source that documents the Tetons’ geologic story, the hydrology of the Snake River headwaters, and the ideals that safeguarded them.

Places on this map

• Grand Teton National Park
• Jackson Lake
• Jenny Lake
• Moose, Wyoming (near the park entrance)
• Teton Village
• Snake River
• Cascade Canyon
• Taggart Lake
• Phelps Lake
• Mount Moran
• South Teton
• Afton Canyon
• Paintbrush Divide
• Emma Matilda Lake
• Death Canyon
• Rendezvous Peak
• Teton Pass
• Glacier Divide
• North Cascade Canyon
• Holbrook Canyon

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Contour lines showing elevation changes
• Water bodies including Jackson Lake and rivers
• Forested areas and grasslands
• Various trails and routes marked
• Roads indicating access points within the park
• Campsites and visitor areas
• Geological formations including peaks and valleys
• Significant trails for hiking and exploration
• Labels indicating specific locations (e.g., water sources, trails)
• Natural landmarks (e.g., mountain ranges)

Historical and design context

• Date of Creation: 1948
• Mapmaker/Publisher: United States Geological Survey (USGS)
• USGS is known for its high-quality cartographic products and plays a vital role in providing scientific information about the natural resources and natural hazards of the United States.
• Design/Style: Historically informative, with meticulous illustrations reflecting the cartographic style of the mid-20th century; features contour lines to denote elevation, blue lines for water bodies, and roads marked clearly.
• Historical Significance: Reflects the understanding of the Grand Teton area during the late 1940s, showcasing conservation efforts and the importance of protected areas in American history.
• Valuable for those interested in Wyoming's topography; serves as a historical document reflecting the geographical understanding at the time of its creation.
• A piece for collectors, historians, and nature lovers; useful for educational purposes or personal interest.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This is a very large map that must be ordered at a large size, so that you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.