Historic Map Exhibition(s) -- Newport, RI

October 2011 -- There are currently two historic map exhibits and an upcoming map collecting symposium being held in Newport, RI.

“Envisioning the World: The First Printed Maps, 1472-1700” is at the Naval War College Museum and includes the first known printed map of the world (T and 0), the first two-color printed world map, the oldest printed road map (the Peutinger Table), Mercator and Ptolemy maps and much more. Free.

The Redwood Library and Athenaeum, 50 Bellevue Avenue, Newport has an exhibit titled, “A Sense of Place: Exploring Newport and Narragansett Bay Through Historic Maps”. Many of the maps are from the Redwood Library, Newport County Preservation Society or on loan from private collections. Maps include Des Barres charts, Ezra Stiles’ map of Newport, Blaskowitz charts and some very rare maps of Rhode Island. Free.

Also, on Saturday, October 15, the Redwood Library and Athenaeum will host a day-long symposium “Collecting Maps: A Redwood Library and Naval War College Museum Cartographic Collaboration” in celebration of the above two current exhibitions. Registration is required. Fee $20, includes lunch.

For more information on the Redwood Library’s map exhibition and symposium www.redwoodlibrary.org/events/calendar

For more information on the “Envisioning the World: First Printed Maps, 1472-1700” exhibition at the Naval War College Museum. Enjoy! www.envisioningtheworld.com