Reference Maps
At their base, reference maps serve as visual representations of people, places, and objects as they relate to each other spatially. Providing essential geographic information of an area, they are valuable and versatile resources used for navigation, education, decision-making processes (especially in the Planning field,) and as ultra-cool wall decor. They can include depictions of humanmade features, such as roads, schools, and cities, physical landmarks like mountains, rivers, and topographic relief, or a combination of both. Below are some past examples of reference maps made by Exc.Carto. Let us know how we can help create the perfect reference map for your needs.
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North Carolina Coast
(2022) [NOT FOR SALE] A map made for a friend who loves sailing. Inspired by classic maritime navigation plats, this map highlights one of nature's superhighways--the many sinuous swamps and estuaries depositing fresh water from the high Appalachians into the sounds and bays of the Carolinian coast. Minimal usage of color here accentuates certain ground features while lending the map a prevalent seafaring aesthetic
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Ilulissat Isfjord (Kangia) UNESCO World Heritage Site
(2022) A map of the Ilulissat Isfjord (Kangia) of western Greenland and its environs. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, the glaciers and their surroundings are home to some incredible arctic flora and fauna. Sermeq Kujalleq, the park's focal point, is the most productive glacier in the world outside of Antarctica, making Kangia one of the most important areas in the world for geologic and long-term climatic research.
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Denali N.P. - Exc.Carto Remake
(2021) A reference map of Denali National Park in Alaska made in the style of Tom Patterson, the U.S. National Park Service's main cartographer. A heavy focus was placed on ensuring the glaciers and elevation profile resembled on-the-ground observations as closely as possible. Notice the old "compass" logo for Excelsior Cartographic in the top-left corner.
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Land Conservation in the Blackfoot River Valley, Western Montana
(2022) Early proof of land conservation activities in the Blackfoot River watershed. Part of a series of maps created for an upcoming conservation atlas of “Big Sky Country.”
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Land Conservation along Ninemile Creek, Western Montana
(2022) Early proof of land conservation activities in the Ninemile Creek watershed. Part of a series of maps created for an upcoming conservation atlas of “Big Sky Country.”
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Oceania - Cultural & Political Geography
(2021) A general reference map highlighting significant settlements, navigation routes, and other cultural features of the continent of Oceania. Most maps of the continent tend to highlight Australia and New Zealand at the expense of many of the outlying Pacific Island Nations and Territories (PINTs), but not this one!