Published in 1936 using survey data from 1927, the U.S. Geological Survey’s “Holderness” presents a richly detailed topographical portrait of central New Hampshire at a moment when rural settlements, lake districts, and river valleys were being carefully recorded for national reference. At a scale of 1:62,500, the map centers on the Holderness and Meredith region, extending across a landscape of villages, waterways, wooded hills, and rising uplands. Its classic USGS styling combines precise contour lines with subtle color differentiation, allowing the eye to read elevation, drainage, and settlement patterns with remarkable clarity. More than a geographic document, it captures the Lakes Region and its northern approaches as they were understood in the late 1920s.

The U.S. Geological Survey, founded in 1879, became one of America’s most important scientific mapping institutions, charged with documenting the nation’s terrain, geology, water systems, and natural resources. Maps such as “Holderness” were not merely navigational aids; they supported land-use planning, forestry, infrastructure, resource management, and later, historical environmental study. The disciplined visual language of the USGS is evident here: roads, rail lines, rivers, contours, and settlements are arranged in a clean hierarchy that rewards close inspection. This map belongs to an era when systematic topographic mapping transformed the way Americans understood their own landscapes, translating rugged local terrain into a coherent national cartographic framework.

Water defines much of the character of this map. Squam Lake and Little Squam Lake occupy the central landscape, their irregular shorelines set among wooded slopes and small communities. To the west, Newfound Lake appears near Bristol, one of New Hampshire’s celebrated deep glacial lakes, while the Pemigewasset River winds through the region toward Franklin. The Baker River and Beebe River add further structure, tracing valleys that shaped travel, settlement, and industry. These waterways are more than scenic features: they mark corridors of movement, sources of power, and natural boundaries. The map’s careful rendering of lakes, rivers, and surrounding relief evokes the enduring relationship between New Hampshire’s towns and its glacially formed terrain.

The populated places shown—including Meredith, Holderness, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Bristol, Ashland, Danbury, and Franklin—anchor the map in a distinctly regional history. Meredith, now closely associated with lake tourism, appears within a broader network of roads, waterways, and upland terrain. Plymouth, long an important gateway to the White Mountains, sits near the Pemigewasset and Baker River corridors, while Franklin marks a more industrialized southern point shaped by river power and transport routes. Bridgewater and Bristol connect the map to the Newfound Lake country, and Ashland lies between the Squam and Pemigewasset landscapes. Together, these towns reveal a region balanced between agriculture, village life, water-powered industry, and the emerging recreational identity of New Hampshire.

The topographical character of “Holderness” is especially compelling. Contour lines articulate the hills and valleys surrounding the lakes and river basins, revealing a landscape that rises and folds in every direction. The surrounding mountains and uplands, including the broader approach toward Moosilauke country, give the map a sense of northern New England’s ruggedness without losing the intimacy of its towns and shorelines. Since the late 1920s, many of these communities have experienced changing patterns of development, tourism, conservation, and land use. This map preserves an earlier geographic moment, before modern expansion fully reshaped the region, offering a finely measured view of central New Hampshire’s natural form and settled life.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Holderness
• Meredith
• Plymouth
• Bridgewater
• Bristol
• Franklin
• Squam Lake
• Pemigewasset River
• Little Squam Lake
• Baker River
• Ashland
• Newfound Lake
• Beebe River
• Danbury
• Moosilauke
• Mountains and hills surrounding the region

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, this historical 1:62,500 topographical map shows Meredith, New Hampshire and the surrounding area.
• The map was created in 1927 and published with a 1936 imprint, reflecting geographical features as represented in that era.
• The U.S. Geological Survey is known for its extensive work in mapping and geological assessment across the United States.
• USGS maps have supported natural resource management, land-use planning, emergency response, and historical geospatial analysis for more than a century.
• The map uses a classic topographical style, with contour lines and color shading to show elevation changes and terrain relief.
• It depicts varied New Hampshire topography, including hills, valleys, lakes, rivers, and other water bodies.
• The areas shown may have changed considerably since the late 1920s due to urbanization, development, tourism, and shifts in land use.

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.