Published in 1927 by the United States Geological Survey, “Marietta” presents a finely detailed topographical portrait of southeastern Ohio and adjacent West Virginia at a scale of 1:62,500. Centered on Marietta, Ohio, the map captures a historically rich landscape where the Muskingum River meets the Ohio River, a confluence that shaped settlement, commerce, and transportation for generations. Marietta’s prominence is especially resonant: founded in 1788, it was the first permanent American settlement in the Northwest Territory, making this map not only a geographic document but a window into one of the foundational landscapes of westward expansion. The surrounding towns, roads, waterways, and relief features together reveal a region poised between frontier memory and early twentieth-century modernization.

The map’s topographic language is one of its most compelling qualities. Carefully drawn contour lines trace the undulating hills, valleys, ridges, and river terraces that define this Appalachian foothill landscape. Rather than presenting the area as a flat administrative space, the USGS rendering gives the terrain a sculptural clarity, showing how settlement and movement were shaped by elevation, drainage, and natural corridors. The Ohio River forms a major geographic and cultural boundary, while the Muskingum River winds northward through a network of lowlands and rising slopes. Rural roads and pathways follow the logic of the land, bending around hills and converging near waterways, towns, and crossings.

Marietta appears alongside neighboring communities such as Williamstown, West Virginia, Reno, Belpre, Waterford, Lower Salem, New Matamoras, and Skelton, forming a cross-river portrait of daily life and regional connection. The inclusion of places on both sides of the Ohio River underscores the practical unity of the valley, where state lines mattered politically but rivers, roads, trade, and kinship created a shared landscape. Williamstown, opposite Marietta, anchors the West Virginia side, while Belpre marks another important Ohio River settlement downstream. Smaller communities and rural routes enrich the map, offering a glimpse of the dispersed settlement patterns, agricultural districts, and transportation networks that characterized the region in the late 1920s.

The United States Geological Survey, established in 1879, brought a rigorous scientific approach to mapping the nation’s terrain, resources, and physical structure. By the time this map was issued, USGS topographic sheets had become indispensable tools for engineers, planners, geologists, foresters, educators, and civic authorities. “Marietta” reflects that institutional precision: its measured contours, hydrography, settlement labels, and transportation details combine scientific exactitude with quiet graphic elegance. These maps were created not merely to show where things were, but to help explain how landforms, water systems, and human infrastructure interacted. In this sheet, the USGS captured a region of rolling relief, riverine importance, and historic settlement with remarkable clarity.

As a document of 1927, the map records the Marietta region during a period of expanding automobile travel, improved rural connectivity, and evolving land use in early twentieth-century America. Numerous roads and pathways thread through the countryside, indicating a landscape increasingly tied together by overland movement while still deeply oriented toward its rivers. The terrain shown here speaks to centuries of use: Indigenous presence, early American settlement, river trade, farming, resource extraction, and small-town development all shaped the area’s geography. With Marietta at its heart and the Ohio and Muskingum rivers defining its structure, this map offers a richly layered view of place, memory, and landscape in one of America’s historically significant border regions.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Marietta, Ohio
• Williamstown, West Virginia
• Skelton
• New Matamoras
• Waterford
• Reno
• Grantsville
• Jefferson
• Lower Salem
• Belpre
• Muskingum River
• Ohio River
• Various contour features indicating elevation changes
• Numerous rural roads and pathways

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical 1:62,500 topographical map showing Marietta, Ohio, and the surrounding area.
• Created in 1927.
• Produced by the US Geological Survey, also known as the USGS.
• The USGS is a scientific agency of the U.S. government, established in 1879 and known for geological research and mapping.
• Marietta is significant as the oldest permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory, founded in 1788.
• Shows surrounding areas in both Ohio and West Virginia.
• Features detailed terrain representation using contour lines to depict elevation changes.
• Highlights the undulating landscape, relief features, and varied elevations of the region.
• Reflects late-1920s geographical knowledge, infrastructure, and land use during early 20th-century development.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

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.