Western North Carolina, a Vacationist's Map and Guide
This map produced by the North Carolina State Advertising Division illustrates the recreational opportunities of Western North Carolina. The Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains form the geographic boundaries of the region; there are no images or opportunities noted beyond the state lines. The image consists of two maps. "The Fun" includes illustrations and labels of local tourist attractions. "The Hiways" is a standard road map of the same region.
Outdoor recreation opportunities are highlighted. The pictorial representation of the mountain ranges defines the map; by naming each mountain, the map makers indicate to the viewer that they are places worth knowing. Waterfalls, hiking trails, and lakes are also found across the map. This includes Fontana Lake, a lake created by a TVA dam.
Amenities are drawn all over the map. Trails, camp spots, small towns, and major roads traverse the entire landscape, making every labelled spot both visually and practically accessible to the traveler. The road map in the bottom right-hand corner to allow the prospective tourist to navigate their way to the attraction.
Notably missing from this map are any rivers and land or features from the surrounding states.
John Sink
David Rumsey Historical Map Collection
North Carolina State Advertising Division
1956 (estimated)
State
Tennessee Valley Area: pictorial map
This pictorial map, produced by the Tennessee Valley Authority, shows the Tennessee River Valley region with particular emphasis on the proposed work and improvements of the TVA. As the map notes, there is "no scale," nor does it include a compass rose. The map has three major parts: the diagram of the proposed dams along the top of the image, the pictorial map of Tennessee, and an inset of Great Smoky Mountain National Park in the bottom right-hand corner. Taken together, all three parts contribute to a particular understanding of the regional geography.
The top diagram shows the location of proposed dams along the Tennessee River with respect to the distance from the mouth and the elevation. This is the product of the Tennessee Valley Authority's work in the region; it's mandate was to provide flood control and generate agricultural and industrial development in the region.
The colors of the map serve to emphasize the area under the TVA's domain, highlighting it in a light green while the rest of the land area is a muted cornflower blue. Mountains, hills, state lines, and cities are depicted in brown; roads are white and toponyms are in black. The rivers and title of the map are dark blue.
The Great Smoky Mountain inset acknowledges the growing importance of recreation and scenic tourism to the region. The National Park was newly established, and the roads linking Knoxville and Asheville, the two cities on either side of the Appalachians in this area highlight the connectivity, which should enable economic growth, of the mountainous landscape.
Library of Congress
U.S. Government Printing Office
1939
Tennessee Valley Authority
Regional; Multi-State