Rare Old Map of Durham, North Carolina by USGS, 1951: University of North Carolina & Piedmont Hills
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1964 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored in London • Printed and framed in the EU
Restored from the original 1964 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
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Created in 1951 and published with a 1964 imprint, the US Geological Survey’s “Durham South” presents a richly detailed portrait of Durham,...
Continue readingCreated in 1951 and published with a 1964 imprint, the US Geological Survey’s “Durham South” presents a richly detailed portrait of Durham, North Carolina, and its surrounding Piedmont countryside at a pivotal mid-century moment. Drawn at the practical 1:62,500 scale, it balances regional breadth with local specificity, showing the populated fabric of Durham alongside roads, waterways, rural settlements, wooded areas, and cultivated land. The original title has a pleasing directness, yet the map itself is layered with information: red roads trace the connective arteries of the area, green tones suggest the lush Carolina landscape, and fine contour lines reveal the hills and valleys that shape movement, settlement, and development.
The map bears the authority of the US Geological Survey, the federal scientific agency founded to study the nation’s terrain, natural resources, and geological character. By the mid-twentieth century, USGS topographic mapping had become indispensable to engineers, planners, conservationists, motorists, and government agencies, offering a standardized visual language for understanding the American landscape. “Durham South” reflects that tradition with disciplined clarity: contours record elevation, watercourses mark drainage patterns, and roads are differentiated with crisp red emphasis. Unlike decorative cartography of earlier centuries, its elegance lies in precision—the restrained palette, systematic symbols, and measured depiction of landforms combine to create a map that is both utilitarian and unexpectedly beautiful.
Durham appears here during an era of transformation, when its older identity as a tobacco and textile city was beginning to intersect with the educational, medical, and scientific forces that would later define the Research Triangle region. The map captures urban Durham not as an isolated city, but as part of a broader landscape of roads, institutions, open country, and neighboring communities. The presence of the University of North Carolina and the surrounding network of highways and local routes hints at the growing importance of academic corridors and regional mobility. Seen from this perspective, the map is a snapshot of the landscape just before accelerated suburbanization reshaped the relationship between town, campus, and countryside.
The topographic character of the sheet is especially engaging. Durham and its environs occupy the rolling Piedmont, and the terrain is articulated through close, carefully drawn contour lines that reveal ridges, shallow valleys, drainage basins, and gently undulating uplands. Tributaries and water bodies thread through the map, explaining the natural logic behind roads, settlement patterns, and open spaces. Green shading gives the scene a verdant quality, evoking the wooded slopes, fields, and parks that soften the urban edge. This combination of contours, hydrography, and land cover makes the map more than a route guide: it is a compact study of how geology and water shaped human use of the land.
As a historical document, “Durham South” offers a compelling view of land use before many of the area’s later highways, subdivisions, and commercial corridors fully emerged. The contrast between red-marked urban development and the surrounding rural landscape makes visible the balance between city and countryside in the early 1950s. Roads radiate outward from Durham into farming districts, green spaces, and smaller communities, suggesting a region still closely tied to local geography. For collectors drawn to places in transition, this map is particularly evocative: it records a familiar North Carolina landscape at an earlier stage, before decades of growth transformed the physical and cultural geography of Durham and its surroundings.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Durham
- University of North Carolina
- Major highways and other roads
- Surrounding rural areas
- Hills and valleys indicated by contour lines
- Water bodies and tributaries
- Nearby parks and green spaces
Historical context & cartographic details
- Historical US Geological Survey topographical map of Durham, North Carolina, and surrounding areas
- Created in 1951 and published with a 1964 imprint
- Produced at a scale of 1:62,500
- Made by the US Geological Survey, a U.S. government scientific agency that studies landscapes, natural resources, and natural hazards
- Uses green topographical shading to convey the region’s lush landscape
- Features contour lines showing elevation changes, hills, and valleys
- Roads are depicted in red, providing clear route information and emphasizing urban development
- Shows the urban and rural development of Durham and its surroundings during the early 1950s
- Highlights changes in land use and urbanization since publication
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.
Created in 1951 and published with a 1964 imprint, the US Geological Survey’s “Durham South” presents a richly detailed portrait of Durham, North Carolina, and its surrounding Piedmont countryside at a pivotal mid-century moment. Drawn at the practical 1:62,500 scale, it balances regional breadth with local specificity, showing the populated fabric of Durham alongside roads, waterways, rural settlements, wooded areas, and cultivated land. The original title has a pleasing directness, yet the map itself is layered with information: red roads trace the connective arteries of the area, green tones suggest the lush Carolina landscape, and fine contour lines reveal the hills and valleys that shape movement, settlement, and development.
The map bears the authority of the US Geological Survey, the federal scientific agency founded to study the nation’s terrain, natural resources, and geological character. By the mid-twentieth century, USGS topographic mapping had become indispensable to engineers, planners, conservationists, motorists, and government agencies, offering a standardized visual language for understanding the American landscape. “Durham South” reflects that tradition with disciplined clarity: contours record elevation, watercourses mark drainage patterns, and roads are differentiated with crisp red emphasis. Unlike decorative cartography of earlier centuries, its elegance lies in precision—the restrained palette, systematic symbols, and measured depiction of landforms combine to create a map that is both utilitarian and unexpectedly beautiful.
Durham appears here during an era of transformation, when its older identity as a tobacco and textile city was beginning to intersect with the educational, medical, and scientific forces that would later define the Research Triangle region. The map captures urban Durham not as an isolated city, but as part of a broader landscape of roads, institutions, open country, and neighboring communities. The presence of the University of North Carolina and the surrounding network of highways and local routes hints at the growing importance of academic corridors and regional mobility. Seen from this perspective, the map is a snapshot of the landscape just before accelerated suburbanization reshaped the relationship between town, campus, and countryside.
The topographic character of the sheet is especially engaging. Durham and its environs occupy the rolling Piedmont, and the terrain is articulated through close, carefully drawn contour lines that reveal ridges, shallow valleys, drainage basins, and gently undulating uplands. Tributaries and water bodies thread through the map, explaining the natural logic behind roads, settlement patterns, and open spaces. Green shading gives the scene a verdant quality, evoking the wooded slopes, fields, and parks that soften the urban edge. This combination of contours, hydrography, and land cover makes the map more than a route guide: it is a compact study of how geology and water shaped human use of the land.
As a historical document, “Durham South” offers a compelling view of land use before many of the area’s later highways, subdivisions, and commercial corridors fully emerged. The contrast between red-marked urban development and the surrounding rural landscape makes visible the balance between city and countryside in the early 1950s. Roads radiate outward from Durham into farming districts, green spaces, and smaller communities, suggesting a region still closely tied to local geography. For collectors drawn to places in transition, this map is particularly evocative: it records a familiar North Carolina landscape at an earlier stage, before decades of growth transformed the physical and cultural geography of Durham and its surroundings.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Durham
- University of North Carolina
- Major highways and other roads
- Surrounding rural areas
- Hills and valleys indicated by contour lines
- Water bodies and tributaries
- Nearby parks and green spaces
Historical context & cartographic details
- Historical US Geological Survey topographical map of Durham, North Carolina, and surrounding areas
- Created in 1951 and published with a 1964 imprint
- Produced at a scale of 1:62,500
- Made by the US Geological Survey, a U.S. government scientific agency that studies landscapes, natural resources, and natural hazards
- Uses green topographical shading to convey the region’s lush landscape
- Features contour lines showing elevation changes, hills, and valleys
- Roads are depicted in red, providing clear route information and emphasizing urban development
- Shows the urban and rural development of Durham and its surroundings during the early 1950s
- Highlights changes in land use and urbanization since publication
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.
Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.
Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.
We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.
- We can deliver directly to the recipient
- Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
- Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
- Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
- 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide
If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
We’ve been restoring and producing maps and art prints since 1984, and we stand behind every piece.
Every order is covered by our 10-year guarantee and damage-free delivery guarantee. If your piece arrives damaged, we’ll replace or remake it free of charge. If anything else isn’t right, contact our workshop team and we’ll put it right promptly.
See our returns and refund policy for full details.
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