Mapping Missouri

Missouri is truly in the middle of it all. The state’s place at the confluence of the Missouri and the Mississippi Rivers attracted Native Americans, French and Spanish fur traders, and American pioneers and settlers. Missouri became a nexus for travelers from the east, and the gateway to places further west, while at the same time 14 of the Western US states were carved from Missouri Territory. In the digital age, maps are more important and accessible than ever. Today, thanks to smart phones, maps literally speak to you and tell you where you are going. But maps were just as important in the past. They not only helped you navigate the world, but they also guided future plans and dreams. Mapping Missouri by historian and museum professional Andrew W. Hahn charts the growth of the state from its geological formation millions of years ago to the present day. The book is designed as a history but also as a guide to encourage the reader to visit and experience their own areas of interest. Let Missouri “show you” its beauty and significance.

Andy Hahn is a seventh-generation Missourian who has been passionate about history and maps his entire life. Since 2003, he has worked as director of the Campbell House Museum, an 1851 townhouse in downtown St. Louis. In his work as a public historian, Andy loves using maps to illustrate stories from the past. His first book Mapping St. Louis was published in 2024.