Published in 1972 using principal survey data from 1968, the US Geological Survey’s “Stowe” presents one of Vermont’s most evocative mountain landscapes at the highly detailed 1:24,000 scale. Centered on Stowe and extending toward neighboring Waterbury and Morrisville, the map captures a moment when northern Vermont’s rural valleys, forested slopes, and emerging recreation economy were being carefully recorded in the precise visual language of federal topography. Roads, trails, streams, wooded areas, and settlement patterns are rendered with the disciplined clarity for which the USGS became renowned. The result is both a practical geographic document and a historical portrait of a region whose identity was increasingly shaped by skiing, hiking, conservation, and the enduring allure of the Green Mountains.

The map’s most commanding presence is Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak and the great topographic anchor of the Stowe region. Its ridges, ravines, and steep approaches are described through dense contour lines, allowing the eye to read the mountain’s dramatic relief almost as a sculptural form. Colored relief shading strengthens this impression, lending depth to the uplands and emphasizing the rugged character of the Green Mountains. Around Mansfield, dashed trails trace routes through the high country, suggesting the growing importance of outdoor recreation in the late twentieth century. Putnam State Forest and surrounding wooded lands reinforce the area’s strong conservation character, while the map’s careful delineation of slopes and valleys conveys why this terrain became synonymous with alpine sport and mountain tourism.

Stowe itself appears as a village embedded in a landscape of exceptional natural drama, its roads and developed areas set against a backdrop of forest, water, and rising ground. By the late 1960s, Stowe was already celebrated as one of New England’s premier ski destinations, and this map quietly records the geography that made that reputation possible. The solid lines of highways and local roads reveal the connective framework bringing visitors into the mountains, while the dashed paths and forest markings point toward a more intimate world of trails and seasonal exploration. As a historical document, it reflects an era when Vermont communities were balancing traditional rural land use with expanding tourism, creating the distinctive blend of village charm and outdoor culture that continues to define Stowe.

To the south and west, Waterbury and the Winooski River add another layer of geographic and cultural interest. The Winooski, one of Vermont’s major rivers, threads through the region as both a natural corridor and a historic route of settlement, industry, and transportation. Waterbury’s position along this valley underscores its longstanding role as a gateway between mountain terrain and more accessible lowland routes. Today associated with craft breweries, local food culture, and the famous Ben & Jerry’s factory, Waterbury’s later identity can be understood in relation to the roads, waterways, and nearby recreational landscapes shown here. The lower portions of the map, with lakes and gentler terrain, contrast elegantly with the steep mountain contours, revealing the varied physical character of central-northern Vermont.

Created by the US Geological Survey, an institution that transformed American cartography from the late nineteenth century onward, this map embodies the agency’s commitment to accuracy, standardization, and public utility. Its conventional topographic design—contours, hydrography, transportation lines, forest tinting, and elevation data—offers a remarkably rich reading of place without ornament or excess. Yet within that scientific restraint lies considerable beauty: the rhythm of contour lines across the Green Mountains, the branching streams descending toward the Winooski, and the fine network of roads and trails linking village, forest, and summit. More than a map of Stowe, it is a record of landscape in transition, preserving the physical and human geography of a Vermont region whose mountains, towns, and recreational traditions remain deeply resonant.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Stowe
• Waterbury
• Morrisville
• Putnam State Forest
• Mount Mansfield
• Winooski River
• Various trails, indicated by dashed lines
• Roads and highways, indicated by solid lines
• Parks and forested areas
• Lakes in the lower section of the map

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical 1:24,000 topographical map produced by the US Geological Survey.
• Main survey data dates from 1968, with a 1972 imprint.
• Published by the US Geological Survey, an agency known for topographic mapping since the 19th century.
• Uses a traditional topographic style with contour lines to show elevation changes.
• Colored relief shading enhances the visualization of terrain.
• Shows the mountainous landscape of the Green Mountains in detailed relief.
• Reflects land use and development patterns from the 1960s.
• Highlights natural features that remain important for outdoor recreation and tourism in Vermont.

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.